Department for Transport

Taxis: Offences against Children

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse in the taxi and private hire sector.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The response to the report by the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing issued on 12 February committed to bring forward legislation to enable national minimum standards in licensing, enable greater enforcement powers for licensing officers and to establish a national licensing database to assist in the sharing of relevant information. The Department is currently considering the responses to the consultation on draft statutory guidance to be issued to licensing authorities on how they can use their extensive existing powers to protect children and vulnerable adults from harm when using taxi and private hire vehicle services.

Railways: Overcrowding

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of overcrowding on trains on (a) value for money and (b) customer experience for rail users.

Andrew Jones: The latest results from the National Rail Passenger Survey (NRPS), which is run by Transport Focus, found that 69% of passenger journeys were rated satisfactory nationally for the level of crowding on trains. Almost half of journeys (46%) were rated satisfactorily for the value for money of the price of the ticket. Both of these findings were unchanged compared to the Autumn 2017 results. The Autumn 2018 results are available at this link: https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/research-publications/publications/national-rail-passenger-survey-nrps-autumn-2018-main-report/. Earlier NRPS wave data are available here: http://www.railpassengerdata.org.uk/. The Williams Rail Review was established in September 2018 to look at the structure of the whole rail industry and the way passenger rail services are delivered. Rail crowding and value for money are both considered in the recently published paper on the user experience of the railway in Great Britain available at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-user-experience-of-the-railway-in-great-britain-an-evidence-paper. More than 4,000 extra weekly services have been added to the network nationally in the last two years, with over 2,000 further services due to be added in the next few years. In addition, 4,500 new train carriages are to be introduced between now and the end of 2022, benefitting passengers across the country.

Cycling: Helmets

Faisal Rashid: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making the wearing of helmets compulsory for cyclists.

Michael Ellis: The Government’s 2018 cycling and walking safety review considered this matter carefully. The Government’s response to the safety review, published in November 2018, summarises the arguments for and against making helmets compulsory, and explains the Government’s position. In short, the Government will continue to encourage cyclists to wear helmets, but believes that this should remain a matter of individual choice. The Government has committed to undertake three actions over the next two years as part of its cycling and walking safety action plan. First, it will continue to promote and encourage cyclists to wear helmets, especially children. Secondly, the Government will provide strengthened advice on fitting of cycle helmets for children, as part of wider advice on use of safety equipment and attire when cycling. Thirdly, the Government will review evidence and international experience on mandatory helmets for children and provide clear guidance to help parents choose what is appropriate for their child.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2018 to Question 256295, Motor Vehicles: Carbon Emissions, what steps a member of the public can take if they want to report a private vehicle that has an excessively smoky exhaust and may not be meeting the required emissions standards.

Michael Ellis: The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, as amended, requires all vehicles to meet strict emission standards and be constructed and maintained so as not to emit any avoidable smoke or avoidable visible vapour. The police are responsible for enforcing these requirements on public roads for light goods vehicles and private cars. They also have powers, under Regulations 54 and 61 of the Regulations, to take action if they suspect a vehicle is in breach of these regulations. The Government would encourage members of the public to bring such problems to the attention of the police through their neighbourhood policing teams to ensure they are given an appropriate priority. Additionally, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency operate a website so that members of the public can report heavy goods vehicles that appear to have excessively smoky exhausts.

Transport: Technology

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to maximise the opportunities that new transport technologies are creating for cleaner, cheaper, safer and more reliable journeys.

Michael Ellis: These themes are at the heart of our Future of Mobility: Urban Strategy. This document sets out the principles that we will implement to ensure we maximise the benefits from new transport technologies. It also sets out our plans to review laws regarding new forms of transport, to invest alongside industry in innovative vehicle technologies, and to establish Future of Mobility Zones to shape the way in which these technologies emerge.

Bus Services: Travel Information

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to provide more live information to bus users; and if he will make a statement.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Department for Transport is currently in the process of building the Bus Open Data Digital Service. The Digital Service will enable bus operators to publish their data so that it can subsequently be used by application developers to create products to improve journey planning for bus passengers across England.Live information is in scope to be included in the digital service. Alongside routes, timetable, and fares data, bus operators will be legally required to provide Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) data to the Bus Open Data Digital Service. Application Developers will be able to access this data to build applications, products and services for end users or passengers.The provision of AVL data, which will be a legal requirement for operators by January 2021, will be an important step towards transforming journey planning for bus users through the use of live information.

Aviation: Passengers

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the number of passengers flying from British airports.

Michael Ellis: In 2018, 292 million passengers flew to or from a UK airport. That figure was almost 3% higher than in 2017, and 24% higher than in 2008.

Public Transport: Disability

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to improve the accessibility of public transport for disabled passengers.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Government is committed to ensuring disabled people, including those with less visible disabilities such as autism, have the same access to transport and opportunities to travel as everyone else.In July 2018 the Department published the Inclusive Transport Strategy. Its ambition is to create a transport system that provides equal access for disabled people by 2030, and to enable disabled people to travel confidently, easily and without extra cost.The Department is making good progress delivering the many commitments set out in the Strategy, and will be reporting to Parliament on this in the summer.

Aviation: Females

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter on improving gender equality in aviation; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Ellis: Earlier this year, nine months after its inception, the Charter celebrated reaching 100 signatories. This milestone signifies that industry is not only committed to greater diversity, but that it is also willing to come under greater scrutiny to prove its commitment to attract and recruit more women and then support their progress so they in turn can act as role models for future generations. We look forward to seeing progress being made against the Charters objectives and the difference it makes to industry.

Public Transport: Wheelchairs

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all modes of public transport are fully accessible for wheelchair users.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Government is committed to ensuring disabled people, including wheelchair users, have the same access to public transport and opportunities to travel as everyone else. In July 2018 the Department published the Inclusive Transport Strategy. Its ambition is to create a transport system that provides equal access for disabled people by 2030, and to enable disabled people to travel confidently, easily and without extra cost.The Department is making good progress delivering the many commitments set out in the Strategy, and will be reporting to Parliament on this in the summer.

Model Aircraft: Registration

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of (a) the threat to air safety posed by Control Line model aircraft and (b) the potential merits of exempting those model aircraft from mandatory registration under the 2019 Drone Registration Scheme.

Michael Ellis: The Department keeps all risks to aviation safety under constant review. With regards to the upcoming Unmanned Aircraft Operator Registration and Education Scheme, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has explored a range of options for model aircraft users. Exemption from the scheme is not a viable option as it would compromise the Government’s overarching objective to increase accountability and safety awareness for all unmanned aircraft users.

Electric Vehicles

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) undertaken to assess the reduction of battery capacity of electric vehicles as a result of regular recharging.

Michael Ellis: Research into battery technologies is being led by the £274m Faraday Battery Challenge which is funded through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. As part of this, the University of Cambridge (with eight other university and 10 industry partners) is leading a project on battery degradation, examining how environmental and internal battery stresses, including charging and discharging rates, damage electric vehicle batteries over time. Alongside this, the Office for Low Emission Vehicles is currently funding a £30m competition looking at Vehicle to Grid technologies. Many of the projects in this competition are also collecting data on battery usage and capacity.

Bus Services: Concessions

Faisal Rashid: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will fund local authorities to provide free bus travel for people under the age of 25.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Local authorities are currently empowered to offer local travel concessions under concessionary travel legislation. If they wish to do so, local authorities are able to offer discounted travel to young people. In addition, bus operators can offer discounted travel for young people - bus operators in 71 of the 89 TCA areas in England outside of London offered some form of discounted travel for young people in 2018/19. In addition, there is a statutory scheme for certain eligible children to receive free school transport.

Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to reduce emissions of (a) sulphur dioxide, (b) nitrogen oxides and (c) particulate matter in the shipping industry.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Government has taken a leading role at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to both secure improvements in UK air quality, and to ensure that the IMO’s global requirements for marine fuel enter into force later this year. On 1 January 2020 the IMO’s global 0.5% limit on sulphur in marine fuel will enter into force, the UK has played a significant role in both supporting this limit, and working with industry to develop guidance to ensure it enters into force effectively. On 1 Jan 2021, following work undertaken at IMO by the UK and neighbouring states, the North Sea and English Channel will become a Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Emissions Control Area, applying the highest levels of NOx controls available under international maritime law. The Government is also active at the IMO in an ongoing work programme to quantify and ultimately regulate emissions of black carbon (a major constituent of particulate matter) from international shipping.

Blue Badge Scheme: Dementia

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to ensure that guidance to local authorities under the expanded Blue Badge eligibility criteria for non-physical disabilities that comes into force on 30 August 2019 will explicitly address the needs of people living with dementia.

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Blue Badges have been issued to people who have dementia recorded as their primary disability.

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people with dementia have had their application for a Blue Badge declined.

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people with dementia have appealed an unsuccessful Blue Badge application; and how many of those appeals were successful.

Michael Ellis: From 30th August 2019, Blue Badge eligibility will be expanded to include explicitly people whose non-physical disabilities. As is currently the case, applications under the expanded regime will be subject to assessment by local authorities. Currently there are no centrally held records of either the number of Blue Badge applicants who have dementia recorded as their primary disability, whether or not a badge was issued, or of any associated appeals. Shortly, the Department for Transport will issue guidance to local authorities on how to assess the new types of applications. As eligibility will not be condition-specific, the guidance will provide advice on assessing how an applicant’s non-physical disability causes them, during the course of a journey, to be unable to walk, experience very considerable difficulty whilst walking, which may include very considerable psychological distress, or be at risk of serious harm when walking, or pose, when walking, a risk of serious harm to any other person.

Large Goods Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce air pollution from trucks and HGVs.

Michael Ellis: The Government is working to address the environmental impacts associated with HGVs by encouraging the development and uptake of cleaner fuels and vehicle technologies. The Department for Transport’s £20m Low Emission Freight and Logistics Trial has over 300 vehicles demonstrating a range of new low emission technologies on UK roads. In February £1m of grant funding was awarded to three technology providers to support the accreditation testing of vehicle retrofit technologies, in particular for HGVs and coaches. From 1 September 2018, DVSA enforcement staff across Great Britain have been checking lorries for emissions cheat devices. Cheat devices mean a lorry can produce up to 20 times more dangerous emissions. The national rollout of checks follows a successful year-long pilot. During the pilot, DVSA enforcement staff caught 449 emission cheats at 5 sites across the country.

Volkswagen

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons the Government has not penalised VW for misleading vehicle emissions.

Michael Ellis: The Government continues to take the unacceptable actions of Volkswagen extremely seriously. However, given that the vast majority, if not all, of the potential wrong doing is likely to have occurred at Volkswagen AG in Germany, it is for the German Government in the first place to take action. The Department will assess the prospects of taking action in the UK, once the German investigation is complete and based on any available evidence.

Model Aircraft: Registration

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that charges levied under the proposed UK Drone Registration Scheme will be kept to a minimum for people who fly models as a hobby.

Michael Ellis: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recently published its consultation on the proposed charge to cover the cost of running the upcoming Unmanned Aircraft Operator Registration and Education Scheme. The proposed charge balances keeping the charge for registration as low as possible with ensuring that the scheme funds itself. Consultation responses will inform the CAA’s final decision on the charge, which will be taken in July 2019.

Shipping: Training

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport,  pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2019 to Question 253563 on Shipping: Training, how many Ratings were trained through the SMarT scheme from (a) 1998-99 to 2010-11.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) does not hold records for the number of Ratings who were trained through the SMarT scheme prior to 2011-12. Prior to 2011-12, SMarT funding was available for training for Ratings and concessionaires, such as hairdressers and gift shop workers. All of these were required to take the four basic safety courses: Personal Survival Techniques; Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting; Elementary First Aid; and Personal Safety and Social Responsibility, in order to work on board ships. As the data held is anonymised, the MCA cannot differentiate between those trainees who were Ratings, working towards obtaining the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Rating Certificate, and those concessionaires working on board vessels in another role.  In 2011, the SMarT scheme policy changed and funding for concessionaire training was no longer available for 2011-12 onwards.

Merchant Shipping: Migrant Workers

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the effect on seafarer employment of the granting of successive waivers from Immigration Rules for seafarers from non-European Economic Area countries to work on merchant vessels servicing construction and maintenance projects in the offshore wind sector since 2016.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: There have been no discussions with the Home Secretary on this topic, however officials have had discussions with Home Office counterparts. For a non-EEA individual to work in UK territorial waters a visa is required as per Home Office regulations. Home Office granted the initial waiver to offshore workers after representation from the offshore industry and have granted further extensions based on continued evidence from the industry that it is necessary.

Shipping: Employment

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from employers in the offshore wind industry on seafarer (a) employment and (b) training since January 2015.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Ministers have not received any representations from employers in the offshore wind industry regarding either seafarer employment or training matters since January 2015.

Unmanned Air Vehicles: Registration

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Civil Aviation Authority consultation (CAP1775), what assessment he has made of the merits of the French equivalent registration membership which is free and lasts for five years.

Michael Ellis: The upcoming UK Unmanned Aircraft Operator Registration and Education Scheme is not directly comparable with the French registration scheme as it does not currently have an education or testing element. The proposed charge for the UK scheme balances keeping the charge for registration as low as possible with ensuring that the scheme funds itself and does not impose undue burden on the state or the taxpayer. The annual renewal period proposed under the UK scheme will be regularly reviewed by the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure it remains fit for purpose.

Model Aircraft: Registration

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Civil Aviation Authority consultation (CAP1775), what steps he is taking to ensure the cost of registration does not reduce numbers participating in model aircraft flight.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Civil Aviation Authority consultation (CAP1775), what steps he has taken to ensure that model aircraft users will not be unfairly targeted through the regulation of motorised drones.

Michael Ellis: The Government has tasked the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with developing and operating the Unmanned Aircraft Operator Registration and Education Scheme to improve the accountability of all users of small unmanned aircraft, whether they be drones or model aircraft, and their awareness of how to fly them safely. The Government recognises the importance of supporting those participating in model aircraft flying, and the strong safety culture fostered by the majority of model aircraft flyers and clubs. However, as set out in the Government’s drone consultation response in January 2019, any alternative approach for model flyers must be achieved without imposing undue burden on the state and the taxpayer, whilst also being efficient and enforceable, without compromising the integrity of the policy.

Model Aircraft: Registration

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) consultation (CAP1775), what discussions he has had with the British Model Flying Association on proposals to register model flying enthusiasts.

Michael Ellis: The new Aviation Minister, Baroness Vere, has met with senior representatives from the British Model Flying Association to discuss how they can work together to maintain and strengthen the UK’s strong aviation safety record. This is part of the Department’s ongoing engagement with all interested stakeholders on the regulation of unmanned aircraft.

Large Goods Vehicles: Accidents

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2019 to Question 253509, for what reason his Department does not hold data on whether cargo was moving within the vehicle during accidents involving lorries.

Michael Ellis: The Department does not hold specific data on whether cargo was moving within vehicles involved in accidents, as this information is not required from the police in the Stats19 data collection. However, ‘overloaded or poorly loaded vehicle or trailer’ can be recorded as a contributory factor. The Department periodically reviews the data collection on personal injury road accidents reported to the police, in a process called Stats19 reviews. A Stats19 review started in autumn 2018 and is currently considering what amendments need to be made to the collection. In making recommendations for change, the review considers evidence on the burden this would impose on the police to collect it for every accident, the practicality and likely quality of the data collected and potential benefits in building the road safety evidence base to save lives. We aim to consult on potential changes to the collection in 2020 following detailed engagement with the police and road safety organisations in 2019.

Railways: Graffiti

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps his Department has taken to tackle illegal graffiti on and around railway lines.

Andrew Jones: The Department regularly works with Network Rail, the British Transport Police and Train Operating Companies to tackle instances of vandalism on the UK rail network. Earlier this year we jointly launched a new campaign - ‘You Vs Train’. The campaign raises awareness about the dangers of trespassing, with the intention reducing instances of future trespassing and acts of vandalism. At a local level Community Rail Partnerships and station adoption groups work with local communities and the rail industry to improve stations and deal with less safety critical instances of vandalism.

Railways: Graffiti

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to work with (a) Network Rail, (b) train operating companies and (c) the police to tackle graffiti along railway lines.

Andrew Jones: On an annual basis Network Rail spends more than £3.5m yearly removing graffiti. Network Rail must prioritise its expenditure on safety critical matters and those affecting the operation of the railway. For those cases that involve offensive graffiti, Network Rail will do all it can to remove this as quickly as possible. In December 2017 the Department launched the refreshed Secure Stations Scheme. The scheme provides an opportunity for Train Operating Companies to demonstrate how they are working with the British Transport Police to reduce crime including issues such as vandalism and graffiti at stations. The British Transport Police has formed a National Working Group to tackle graffiti and meet with Train Operating Companies monthly. It’s Crime Reduction Advisors work with railway businesses companies on security for sidings and sheds, stations and trains. Train operating companies and the British Transport Police also work with Community Rail Partnerships and station adoption groups on local measures to remove and deter graffiti.

Railways: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 17 of the Government's Industrial Strategy: Rail Sector Deal, published in 2018, what steps his Department is taking through the Rail Sector Deal to address the lack of innovation opportunity in contracts due to current procurement methodology and to outcome-focused whole life supply contracts to increase system reliability and avoid risk averse behaviours.

Andrew Jones: Strategic procurement of infrastructure which supports UK supply chains, skills and exports is a key part of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy, and through the Rail Sector Deal we are working with industry to promote procurement practices that support an innovative, highly-skilled, and productive British rail supply chain. These improved practices may include more effective use by both public and private sector organisations of early contractor engagement, simplified tendering processes, and procurement balanced scorecards examining whole-life costs and benefits. The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is currently taking forward work on this element of the sector deal on behalf of the rail industry. Rail companies that would like to contribute should contact either RIA or the Rail Supply Group.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 April 2019 to Question 245683 on Rolling Stock: Procurement, what the relevant evaluation criteria are in such Government-led procurement exercises.

Andrew Jones: The current procurement of rolling stock for HS2 is being conducted by HS2 Ltd in line with the Utilities Contract Regulations 2016. The evaluation process takes into account technical quality, deliverability (including wider benefits) and overall whole life value. The evaluation processes for the earlier procurements of Thameslink and Intercity Express Trains undertaken by the Department for Transport are both described in the Invitation to Tender documents, both of which are available in the National Archives.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 May 2019 to Question 247041 on Rolling Stock: Procurement, if he will publish the value for money analysis undertaken in relation to franchise competitions.

Andrew Jones: Rolling stock procurement is usually undertaken by train operators. Value for money assessments undertaken on individual bids for franchises are commercially confidential. The Department does not comment on live competitions.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 May 2019 to Question 247043, who has statutory or regulatory power in relation to rolling stock procurement.

Andrew Jones: The Department does not have any statutory or regulatory powers in respect of rolling stock procurement. Procurement is undertaken through fair and open competition, usually by train operators as part of their franchise commitments.

Railways: Manufacturing Industries

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 May 2019 to Question 247045, how he will ensure that the Rail Sector Deal promotes procurement practices that are supportive an innovative, highly skilled, and productive British rail supply chain and ensure value for money.

Andrew Jones: Government and industry are promoting improved procurement practices through the Sustainable Supply Chain pillar of the Rail Sector Deal. Improved practices may include more effective use of early contractor engagement, simplified tendering processes, and procurement balanced scorecards examining whole-life costs and benefits. Such practices may be used more widely by public and also private sector organisations, therefore enabling tier one suppliers and others to support their own supply chains. The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is currently taking forward work on this element of the sector deal on behalf of the rail industry. Rail companies that would like to contribute should contact either RIA or the Rail Supply Group.

West Coast Partnership Rail Franchise

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has he made of the (a) adequacy of the balance of risk and reward in the provisions of the West Coast Partnership rail franchise and (b) ability of the shortlisted bidders to meet those provisions.

Andrew Jones: The Department does not comment on live competitions. Please note that all bids received for any franchise competition are evaluated against the requirements and instructions set out in the relevant procurement documentation.

West Coast Partnership Rail Franchise

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, What assessment he has made of the strategic importance of rail services on the West Coast mainline to the economy.

Andrew Jones: Rail services on the West Coast mainline have contributed to economic growth up and down the country and the line is now faster and busier than ever. The introduction of HS2 services will free up capacity across the West Coast mainline to ensure that this growth continues.

Cycleways: Urban Areas

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) cities and (b) towns include under represented groups when planning cycling infrastructure in England and Wales.

Michael Ellis: The Government’s plans to promote cycling and walking are set out in the statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published in April 2017. The Strategy’s ambition is to make cycling and walking the natural choice for shorter journeys, or as part of a longer journey. The Strategy includes a commitment to monitor the uptake of cycling by age, gender, ethnicity and mobility. The Department for Transport recognises that the take-up of cycling is lower among some groups than others. For some under-represented groups, concerns about safety are a major barrier to taking up cycling. In November 2018 the Department published a full response to the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy safety review, which included a detailed list of actions to make cycling safer and hence more attractive to those who are not regular cyclists. It is for Local Authorities to plan their cycling infrastructure (and to take account of their Public-Sector Equality Duty in doing so) and Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans are an effective way of identifying infrastructure and routes with the greatest potential for increasing levels of cycling and walking, often by focusing on areas with under-represented groups.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Iron and Steel: Recycling

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of creating a more sustainable steel industry with a focus on recycling steel.

Andrew Stephenson: We are working with the sector, the unions and devolved administrations to support the UK steel industry to develop a long-term sustainable solution for the UK steel industry. The Department commissioned independent research to identify high value opportunities for UK steel, worth up to £3.8 billion a year by 2030. In the 2018 Budget, my rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an Industrial Energy Transformation Fund with investment of £315 million to help businesses with high energy use to cut their bills and transition UK industry to a low carbon future. Through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, we are also providing up to £66 million, subject to industry co-funding, to transform foundation industries which includes steel, to develop radical new technologies and establish innovation centres of excellence in these sectors.

Post Office: Finance

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding from the public purse has been provided to Post Office Ltd in each of the last five years.

Kelly Tolhurst: Holding answer received on 06 June 2019



Government subsidy ensures that branches serving our rural communities that need additional support receive it so that they can stay open. Government subsidy has been declining in recent years; this reflects the progress that the business has made. Post Office Limited returned to profit after 16 years of losses and has thereby reduced its reliance on the taxpayer. The Government has provided the following funding to the Post Office over the last five years: YearNetwork Subsidy Payment (£ million)Investment funding (£ million)   2014/151601702015/161301502016/17801402017/1870702018/1960168

Carbon Emissions: Environment Protection

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what funding is available for communities that wish to become carbon neutral.

Chris Skidmore: Community and local energy projects are an important element of carbon reduction and government continues to support communities who wish to become carbon neutral or reduce their carbon footprint. At the end of May, the Rural Community Energy Fund reopened to support communities seeking to develop a wide range of low carbon activities. The £10m fund provides grants to communities for the feasibility studies into their ideas for action and where viable another grant to help develop the project to investment readiness. The Rural Community Energy Fund will be delivered through the local energy hubs, created as part of the BEIS Local Energy Programme. The 5 hubs cover all the Local Enterprise Partnerships and the South West hub is managed by the West of England Combined Authority. The hubs provide wider commercial, technical and project management support to Local Authorities on their low carbon energy projects.

Consumer Goods: Safety

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Office for Product Safety and Standards has the (a) powers and (b) resources necessary to issue guidance and protect consumers effectively.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) was set up in January 2018 to boost the UK’s product safety regime and provide national leadership on product safety matters. OPSS currently has access to my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State’s powers under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. The Government has laid in draft an Order to ensure that OPSS powers reflect those available to other enforcement authorities under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. We will consult on whether further powers are necessary in due course. OPSS has additional funding on product safety of around £12m this year and the Department will consider OPSS funding requirements for future years in preparation for the next spending review.

Consumer Goods: Safety

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of reductions in funding on local authorities capacity to enforce product safety measures.

Kelly Tolhurst: Local Authorities are independent from central government and are responsible for their own finances and funding decisions, accountable to their local electorates.Government identified the need for national leadership and co-ordination of the product safety system and established the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) in January 2018 to fulfil this role.OPSS has built capability to lead on national product safety issues. This includes commissioning a strategic research programme; setting up arrangements to deal with national product safety incidents; and forming a trading standards co-ordination unit to support the work that Local Authorities carry out on product safety in their local areas.As part of its support for Local Authority Trading Standards, OPSS has made available £600,000 this year to Local Authorities for product safety testing, trained over 700 trading standards staff from 211 Local Authorities and provided scientific and technical support to increase Trading Standards capability on product safety regulation.

Energy Companies Obligation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he has taken to ensure that the Energy Company Obligation is targeted effectively at disabled people with conditions or impairments that are adversely affected by the cold.

Chris Skidmore: Under the current iteration of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, which began in December 2018, we have extended eligibility to include people in receipt of disability benefits. These benefits include: Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Severe Disablement Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefits and their Ministry of Defence equivalents.In addition, under an element of ECO called LA-Flex, obligated energy suppliers can meet up to 25% of their obligation by providing measures to households on low incomes and vulnerable to cold if they have been referred to them by a participating local authority. Some local authorities have used GP referrals to identify such vulnerable households.

Flexible Working

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to encourage a better work-life balance in the UK.

Kelly Tolhurst: Employees in the UK have a variety of different leave entitlements which can help them balance work with other commitments or interests. These range from short term leave to cover emergencies, through annual leave, to a range of entitlements to parental leave and pay. The Government is also considering new employment rights for carers. In addition, the Government continues to support flexible working practices to help people manage their work other commitments. Employees with 26 weeks of continuous service have a right to request flexible working and we are considering a new duty on employers to be clear when advertising a job whether it is available on a flexible basis.

Hydroelectric Power: Capital Investment

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing investment in pumped hydro storage facilities.

Chris Skidmore: We recognise that electricity storage technologies, including pumped hydro storage, provide an important source of flexibility to our energy system. We currently have around 3GW of storage capacity on our system, of which the vast majority is pumped hydro storage. The Electricity System Operator outlines that, by 2050, there could be 12-29 GW of total storage capacity on our system. In our Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan, published in July 2017 (and updated in October 2018), Government and Ofgem set out a range of actions to remove barriers to electricity storage. Our work seeks to enable fair access to energy markets in order to create a best in class regulatory framework for the sector and includes several important reforms to our electricity market, including to the balancing mechanism, capacity market and balancing services, which serve to sharpen incentives to invest in storage. We will continue to engage with storage developers, including those of pumped hydro projects, to understand how to facilitate these technologies whilst ensuring best value for consumers and fair competition between different flexibility technologies.

Companies: Registration

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 29 May 2019 to Question 256394, what assistance the Government will provide to individuals concerned about their public safety but unable to afford the Companies House SR01 form fee.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government has no current plans to provide assistance to individuals in relation to the SR01 form fee for removing a home address from the public record. However, Companies House is keeping the fee under review.

Small Businesses: West Sussex

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps he has taken to support small businesses in (a) Crawley constituency and (b) West Sussex.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government is committed to supporting all entrepreneurs to start and grow a business, it is a key aspect of our ambitious Industrial Strategy. We want to make the UK the best place to start and grow a business, to create jobs and spread prosperity.In addition to accessing national support available, such as the Business Support Helpline (0300 456 3565) and advice on www.gov.uk, small businesses in the Crawley constituency and West Sussex County Council area can access business advice through the Coast to Capital Growth Hub. Led and governed by the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the Growth Hub provides a free, impartial, ‘single point of contact’ to help businesses in the area identify and access the right support for them at the right time no matter their size or sector. The Coast to Capital LEP has self-reported that in FY2017-2018 their Growth Hub supported over 2,400 businesses and helped over 600 individuals start a business.The Start-Up Loans programme, now part of the British Business Bank, has delivered 63,564 loans worth £496m, and is currently supporting 96 loans totaling £659,191 of finance in Crawley.Funding under the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund indicates that Crawley has £546,203 for organisations registered within this constituency. There is no data for West Sussex.And finally, as you are aware in the 2019 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, Inspiration Healthcare Ltd in Crawley won an award in the International Trade category.

Boilers

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he has taken to ensure that boilers comply with the 2018 Boiler Plus regulations and are at least 92% energy efficient.

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 24 May 2019 to Question 255264 on Boilers: Natural Gas, who carries out those tests.

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2019 to Question 245593 on Boilers: Natural Gas, what proportion of boilers sold after the introduction of the current standards met or exceeded the minimum energy efficiency standard of 92 per cent.

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 24 May 2019 to Question 225264 on Boilers: Natural gas, if he will indicate where the research carried out on real-world performance of boilers is to be found on the www.brgroup.com website.

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 24 May 2019 to Question 255264, in what way (a) the nature of buildings and (b) the use of a product by the consumer affects the efficiency of the boiler.

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 24 May 2019 to Question 255265 on Boilers: Natural Gas and with reference to page 27 paragraph 3.1.13.2 of BSI Standards Publication BS EN 15502-1:2012+A1:2015, whether boiler efficiency must be measured in situ rather than under test conditions.

Chris Skidmore: The 2018 uplifts to boiler installation standards were made through an amendment to the 2018 Building Regulations. Compliance with Building Regulations is enforced by Building Control.Compliance with Energy-related Products (ErP) standards is carried out by Notified Bodies, as defined by EU Directive 92/42/EEC: Hot Water Boilers. A list of Notifying Bodies can be found at the following URL: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/nando/index.cfm?fuseaction=directive.print&refe_cd=92%2F42%2FEECIn response to his question on the percentage of boilers sold after the introduction of the current standards, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 24th May 2019 to Question 255264.The details of the research carried out on real-world boiler performance are available here:https://www.bre.co.uk/sap2012/page.jsp?id=2768https://www.bre.co.uk/sap2012/page.jsp?id=2767https://www.bre.co.uk/sap2016/page.jsp?id=3619Boilers operate within a household heating system comprising pumps, pipes, emitters and controls. The efficient operation of the system depends on the proper sizing, positioning and maintenance of these components to ensure how water is distributed as it should around the building. The heating system has a dynamic relationship with the fabric of the building such that efficiency is also affected by the level of insulation, ventilation, the extent to which doors and windows are kept open, and ambient heat from other household systems. Performance is also affected by the manner in which the consumer makes use of timers, thermostats and individual radiator controls, and by variation in gas content.Boiler efficiency must be measured under test conditions to ensure comparability between products. There are too many variables in situ, as described above, to allow fair comparability.

Universities: Research

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support the future engagement of UK universities with CESAER, LERU, EUA, the Guild, and other European University Associations, in order to maintain levels of collaboration in research, teaching and best practice after the UK leaves the EU.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support the future engagement of UK universities with European University Associations such as CESAER, LERU, EUA, the Guild, in order to maintain levels of collaboration in research, teaching and best practice.

Chris Skidmore: As Chair of the High-Level Stakeholder Working Group on EU Exit, Universities, Research and Innovation, I regularly engage with senior representatives from UK universities, academies and businesses to discuss issues of common interest regarding the UK’s exit from the EU. I continue to support positive discussions with representatives of these organisations on how best to maintain UK collaboration, including with a wide range of European umbrella organisations.

Renewable Energy: Job Creation

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to create more jobs in the renewable energy sector.

Chris Skidmore: Clean Growth is at the heart of this Government’s modern Industrial Strategy. There are currently 400,000 jobs in the low carbon economy, with the ambition to have 2 million by 2030. We’ve injected £2.5 billion into low-carbon innovation and earlier this year struck a deal with the offshore wind industry, which will see up to £40 billion worth of infrastructure investment in the UK, creating clean, green electricity, good jobs and sustained growth across the UK. Under the Offshore Wind Sector Deal, industry aims to more than triple the number of ‘green collar’ jobs in the sector to 27,000 by 2030, up from the current figure of 7,200.

Gratuities

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timetable is for legislative proposals on tips.

Kelly Tolhurst: Through the Good Work Plan we have committed to legislate on a range of areas to enhance workers’ rights, including to ensure that all tips left to workers go to them in full. It is important that we get this right and we have been working closely with stakeholders and across Government to prepare this legislation. We are making good progress and will lay measures to implement the Good Work Plan in Parliament as soon as possible. The Good Work Plan set out an ambitious programme to take forward 51 of the 53 recommendations made in the Taylor Review. We have already implemented key commitments, with Parliament recently passing secondary legislation we brought forward to increase workers’ rights and protections, and improve transparency for workers, from day one.

Research and Science: Equality

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment she has made of (a) female and (b) BAME representation in senior science and research jobs.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment she has made of female representation in scientific occupations as career levels progress.

Chris Skidmore: This is publicly available information.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publish data on employment by occupation, which is available by gender: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/datasets/employmentbyoccupationemp04The Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) publish data on academic research staff in UK universities, broken down by seniority, sex and ethnicity through the Higher Education Staff Data, Detailed Tables 13 and 15: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/staff

Tumble Dryers: Safety

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to Whirlpool’s handling of its tumble dryer safety issue and concerns about its repair programme, what steps his Department is taking to help protect consumers from the fire risks of tumble dryers.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government is committed to ensuring the safety of consumers and I have personally been involved in issues related to Whirlpool tumble dryers since my appointment. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) was tasked with reviewing the effectiveness of Whirlpool’s technical modification and the adequacy of its consumer outreach Programme, and that review was published on 4th April. OPSS issued a Decision Letter setting out the requirements that Whirlpool must take to improve its management of risk and its communications with customers on 2nd April. Whirlpool were given 28 days to respond setting out the actions they will take. The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 provides powers to deal with goods to ensure the safety of consumers and OPSS will continue to take appropriate steps to hold Whirlpool to account and will continue to be actively engaged in respect of the Whirlpool tumble dryer safety issue.

Refrigerators: Standards

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Office for Product Safety and Standards has plans to implement the new CENELEC refrigerating appliances standard.

Kelly Tolhurst: Adoption of a CENELEC standard as a British standard is a matter for the British Standardisation Institution (BSI). BSI published the revised CENELEC standard as the British Standard on 31 March 2019. The use of standards generally is voluntary. As a reference to the CENELEC standard has not been published in the Official Journal by the European Commission, it cannot give presumption of conformity with requirements of the legislation. The Government continues to work with BSI and other stakeholders such as the London Fire Brigade at international level to further enhance safety standards and drive up best practice. However, business must comply with the essential safety requirements of the legislation.

Railways: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to page 17 of the Government's Industrial Strategy: Rail Sector Deal, published in 2018, what steps his Department is taking through the Rail Sector Deal to address the lack of innovation opportunity in contracts due to current procurement methodology, and to promote outcome-focused whole life supply contracts to increase system reliability and avoid risk averse behaviours.

Andrew Stephenson: Strategic procurement of infrastructure which supports UK supply chains, skills and exports is a key part of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy, and through the Rail Sector Deal we are working with industry to promote procurement practices that support an innovative, highly-skilled, and productive British rail supply chain. These improved practices may include more effective use by both public and private sector organisations of early contractor engagement, simplified tendering processes, and procurement balanced scorecards examining whole-life costs and benefits. The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is currently taking forward work on this element of the sector deal on behalf of the rail industry. Rail companies that would like to contribute should contact either RIA or the Rail Supply Group.

Renewable Energy

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to support communities that wish to invest in renewable community energy.

Chris Skidmore: Holding answer received on 10 June 2019



BEIS supports communities that wish to invest in renewable community energy. At the end of May, the Rural Community Energy Fund re-opened to support communities seeking to develop a wide range of low carbon activities. The £10m fund provides grants to communities for feasibility studies to scope out ideas, and where projects are viable, another grant to help develop the project to investment readiness. The Rural Community Energy Fund will be delivered through the Local Energy Hubs which were created as part of the BEIS Local Energy Programme. There are five Hubs across England, including one in the North West which is managed by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The Hubs also provide wider commercial, technical and project management support to enable communities and Local Authorities to develop low carbon energy projects. BEIS acknowledge the importance of a route to market for small-scale low-carbon generation for communities. On 10 June we launched the Smart Export Guarantee, which will ensure that small-scale low-carbon generators are paid for the power they export to the grid. The SEG provides space for innovative market solutions to come forward, and supports the uptake of flexible technologies such as batteries - reinforcing our smart energy agenda. Eligible community projects will be able to benefit from the SEG, however we recognise that it may be more suitable for some projects than others. We are continuing to consider what measures we could take to support the efforts of communities that wish to invest in low-carbon community energy.

Carbon Budgets

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to carry forward part of the second carbon budget in to the third budgetary period.

Chris Skidmore: Holding answer received on 10 June 2019



The UK has a world-leading record in tackling climate change. We are rightly proud of our performance against our carbon targets, having overperformed for the second time, leading us to cut our emissions faster than any G7 country. We remain firmly committed to tackling the threat of climate change and to meeting our future carbon targets through the ambitious plans and policies set out in the Clean Growth Strategy. The decision to reserve part of the second carbon budget is a technical one which does not impact the Government’s commitment to taking strong domestic action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change. The Government has deposited letters in the Libraries of the House confirming its decision.

Mineworkers' Pension Scheme

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will review the mineworkers’ pension scheme surplus-sharing arrangements between Government and scheme beneficiaries.

Andrew Stephenson: Holding answer received on 10 June 2019



The Government does not intend to review the surplus sharing arrangements which have worked well for all parties. However, the Government is considering proposals from the Trustees for changes including greater protection of bonuses that have already accrued.

Mineworkers' Pension Scheme

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to reform the mineworkers’ pension scheme in line with the 1993 actuarial review.

Andrew Stephenson: Holding answer received on 10 June 2019



There are no current plans to review the existing arrangements, agreed between the Government and the Trustees in 1994, on the basis of the 1993 review. The scheme has been working well for all parties. The Government is considering proposals from the Trustees for changes including greater protection of bonuses that have already accrued.

Energy: Consumers

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2019 to Question to 256956 on energy: consumers, what estimate he has made of the number of people on the Priority Services Register in each nation and region of the UK in each year for which data is available.

Chris Skidmore: Holding answer received on 10 June 2019



This information is publicly available at:https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/about-us/how-we-work/working-consumers/protecting-and-empowering-consumers-vulnerable-situations/consumer-vulnerability-strategy/consumer-vulnerability-strategy-reporting-progress.

Minimum Wage: Enforcement

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what information his Department holds on the (a) underpayment of the national minimum wage by employers, (b) amount of arrears and fines paid by employers for underpayment of the national minimum wage and (c) number of successful prosecutions of employers for underpayment of the national minimum wage for the 2018-19 financial year.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government is clear that all employers are responsible for paying their staff correctly. Anyone entitled to the Minimum Wage should receive it. We have more than doubled the budget for minimum wage compliance and enforcement since 2015; it is now at a record high of £27.4 million. Last year was a record year for NMW enforcement. Across the 2018/19 financial year HMRC identified a record £24.4 million in minimum wage arrears, for over 220,000 workers. HMRC completed almost 3,000 investigations; issuing £17 million in financial penalties to over 1,000 non-compliant employers. Since 2007, 14 employers have been successfully prosecuted for underpaying the Minimum Wage. HMRC issued 7 Labour Market Enforcement Undertakings in the 2018/19 financial year. This information will be covered in more detail in BEIS’ Minimum Wage Enforcement and Compliance report, which we will publish in due course.

Renewable Energy: Expenditure

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding his Department has made available for renewable energy generation in each nation and region in the UK in each of the last seven years.

Chris Skidmore: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Energy: Denbighshire

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2019 to Question 256956, how many people were registered on the priority services register in each ward in Denbighshire in each year for which figures are available.

Chris Skidmore: This is a matter for Ofgem who, as regulator, is responsible for collecting priority services register data from energy suppliers. Ofgem collect and publish this data on a national basis and do not hold data at ward level.

*No heading*

Ruth George: What recent assessment his Department has made of the equity of employment contract terms and conditions in the supermarket sector.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government is committed to upgrading workers’ rights and protecting the most vulnerable workers. Our legal framework already ensures that employers should always treat their employees fairly, and our Good Work Plan will introduce the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation. In the retail sector specifically, the industry-led Retail Sector Council has identified employment as a priority workstream and this will be discussed at our next meeting on 20 June.

*No heading*

Kevin Hollinrake: What recent steps his Department has taken to promote clean growth.

Chris Skidmore: The UK is a world leader in clean growth – leading the G20 in cutting emissions while growing the economy. The recent Offshore Wind Sector Deal is a fantastic example of how this government and industry are partnering to create good jobs in new low carbon supply chains whilst further decarbonising our power sector. We are also working to support clean growth internationally, which is why we have bid to host COP26 in 2020, to demonstrate our commitment towards the Paris agreement and maintain momentum.

*No heading*

Julian Sturdy: What recent steps he has taken to support businesses in North Yorkshire.

Andrew Stephenson: Businesses across North Yorkshire are benefitting from this Government’s investment of over £840 million through the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding and Leeds City Region Growth Deals. This is providing financial assistance to local businesses, as well as improving infrastructure and skills. For instance, £47 million LGF award will release significant private sector investment in the York Central project. This £100 million urban regeneration will accommodate up to 7,000 jobs, and create more than 112,000 square meters of new retail, leisure and commercial space.

*No heading*

John Lamont: What recent steps he has taken to support businesses in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency.

Andrew Stephenson: We’ve committed to invest up to £560 million through both the Borderlands Growth Deal and the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, demonstrating our commitment to supporting growth and prosperity in the Scottish Borders. As of May 2019, the British Business Bank’s Start-Up Loans programme has made 45 loans totalling over £340,000 for businesses in his constituency.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Kashmir: Politics and Government

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the death of Zakir Musa, what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Kashmir.

Mark Field: We are aware of reports that last month Indian security forces killed Zakir Musa, the Chief of the Al Qaeda-affiliated Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH) group, during a counter-insurgency operation in Kashmir’s Pulwama district and that a number of protests followed. We continue to monitor the security situation in Kashmir and we keep our travel advice under review. We are concerned by levels of firing and shelling between Indian and Pakistani troops in Kashmir and urge both sides to exercise restraint and improve channels of communication. We welcome the exchanges between Prime Minister Khan and Prime Minister Modi following Prime Minister Modi’s re-election, and we encourage India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue and find lasting, diplomatic solutions to maintain regional stability.

Kashmir: Human Rights

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Indian counterpart on Indian security forces upholding international human rights in Kashmir in the last 12 months.

Mark Field: We encourage both India and Pakistan to uphold their international human rights obligations. Any allegations of human rights violations or abuses is concerning and must be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently. I discussed the situation in Kashmir with the Indian Foreign Secretary on my visit to India in March this year. The Permanent Under Secretary to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office also raised the situation in Kashmir with the Foreign Secretary during bilateral talks last month (May).

Yasin Malik

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will he seek assurances from his Indian counterpart that Kashmiri activist Yasin Malik will receive a fair trial following his arrest in April 2019.

Mark Field: ​It is not for the UK to comment on or intervene in an independent judicial process in another country. However, the British Government does encourage all states, including India, to ensure that their domestic laws meet international standards for free and fair trials. We will continue to monitor the case.

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Maria Caulfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of Hamas’s role in the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Dr Andrew Murrison: As the UK said at the UN Security Council on 22 May, Hamas’s ongoing decision to embrace violence and reject the Quartet Principles lies at the heart of the Gazan tragedy. Hamas’s decision to send rockets towards Israel is unacceptable and must stop. Our policy on Hamas is clear: they must renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept previously signed agreements. Violence further undermines the humanitarian situation in Gaza, creates fear amongst the Israeli and Palestinian populations, and damages the prospects for peace. We urge all parties to demonstrate restraint, and work towards a durable agreement that addresses the underlying causes of the conflict and transforms the situation in Gaza.

China: Human Rights

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the upcoming anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, whether he plans to use that anniversary to make representations to the Chinese Government on the human rights situation that country.

Mark Field: To mark the 30th anniversary of the tragic events in Tiananmen Square, the Foreign Secretary released a statement remembering those who lost their lives when protesting peacefully, and urging the Chinese Government to respect the rights and freedoms enshrined in China’s constitution and in international law. The British Government raises human rights with the Chinese authorities at all levels and will continue to do so. I raised human rights concerns with State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during my last visit to China. We also raise issues publicly, for example, we registered our concerns about human rights in China in our national statements at recent sessions of the UN Human Rights Council and through our activity at China’s last Universal Periodic Review in November 2018. British diplomats in Beijing have reported increased censorship and surveillance of citizens in China in the weeks leading up to 4 June. This is a common pattern they observe in the run up to the 4 June anniversary. In recent years, the Chinese authorities have also focused on censoring discussion on the anniversary on social media in China, which has reportedly included some Western news websites being restricted more than usual within China around this period. The British Embassy in China experienced such censorship first hand this week; the Embassy posted my statement in English and Chinese through social media, which was then censored within a few minutes. We remain concerned by all restrictions on freedom of expression in China and urge the authorities to safeguard citizens’ rights to freedom of speech and expression. It is crucial that governments allow their societies and citizens to remember, debate and discuss important historical events, even when this is uncomfortable for the governments concerned. The British Government also remains committed to making representations to the Chinese Government on the rights of relatives of protestors. During the Foreign Secretary’s last visit to China, he met with family members of detained Chinese human rights lawyers who were arrested in the so-called “709 crackdown.”

China: Human Rights

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of reports of increased surveillance and censorship ahead of the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Mark Field: To mark the 30th anniversary of the tragic events in Tiananmen Square, the Foreign Secretary released a statement remembering those who lost their lives when protesting peacefully, and urging the Chinese Government to respect the rights and freedoms enshrined in China’s constitution and in international law. The British Government raises human rights with the Chinese authorities at all levels and will continue to do so. I raised human rights concerns with State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during my last visit to China. We also raise issues publicly, for example, we registered our concerns about human rights in China in our national statements at recent sessions of the UN Human Rights Council and through our activity at China’s last Universal Periodic Review in November 2018. British diplomats in Beijing have reported increased censorship and surveillance of citizens in China in the weeks leading up to 4 June. This is a common pattern they observe in the run up to the 4 June anniversary. In recent years, the Chinese authorities have also focused on censoring discussion on the anniversary on social media in China, which has reportedly included some Western news websites being restricted more than usual within China around this period. The British Embassy in China experienced such censorship first hand this week; the Embassy posted my statement in English and Chinese through social media, which was then censored within a few minutes. We remain concerned by all restrictions on freedom of expression in China and urge the authorities to safeguard citizens’ rights to freedom of speech and expression. It is crucial that governments allow their societies and citizens to remember, debate and discuss important historical events, even when this is uncomfortable for the governments concerned. The British Government also remains committed to making representations to the Chinese Government on the rights of relatives of protestors. During the Foreign Secretary’s last visit to China, he met with family members of detained Chinese human rights lawyers who were arrested in the so-called “709 crackdown.”

China: Human Rights

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to make representations to the Chinese Government on the rights of the family members of the Tiananmen Square protesters.

Mark Field: To mark the 30th anniversary of the tragic events in Tiananmen Square, the Foreign Secretary released a statement remembering those who lost their lives when protesting peacefully, and urging the Chinese Government to respect the rights and freedoms enshrined in China’s constitution and in international law. The British Government raises human rights with the Chinese authorities at all levels and will continue to do so. I raised human rights concerns with State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during my last visit to China. We also raise issues publicly, for example, we registered our concerns about human rights in China in our national statements at recent sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council and through our activity at China’s last Universal Periodic Review in November 2018. British diplomats in Beijing have reported increased censorship and surveillance of citizens in China in the weeks leading up to 4 June. This is a common pattern they observe in the run up to the 4 June anniversary. In recent years, the Chinese authorities have also focused on censoring discussion on the anniversary on social media in China, which has reportedly included some Western news websites being restricted more than usual within China around this period. The British Embassy in China experienced such censorship first hand this week; the Embassy posted my statement in English and Chinese through social media, which was then censored within a few minutes. We remain concerned by all restrictions on freedom of expression in China and urge the authorities to safeguard citizens’ rights to freedom of speech and expression. It is crucial that governments allow their societies and citizens to remember, debate and discuss important historical events, even when this is uncomfortable for the governments concerned. The British Government also remains committed to making representations to the Chinese Government on the rights of relatives of protestors. During the Foreign Secretary’s last visit to China, he met with family members of detained Chinese human rights lawyers who were arrested in the so-called “709 crackdown.”

Hugh Lanning

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Israeli Government on the deportation of Hugh Lanning.

Dr Andrew Murrison: Whilst we are aware of Mr Lanning’s denial of entry into Israel, we have not raised this matter with the Israeli authorities.​

International Assistance: Security

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of reforming its guidance on Overseas Security and Justice Assistance to include separate advice on assistance provided to non-state groups.

Mark Field: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office updated its guidance on Overseas Security and Justice Assistance in 2017 by Written Ministerial Statement. Since then, information on its implementation has been included in the The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's annual Human Rights and Democracy Report. Overseas Security and Justice Assitance assessments completed for specific projects or interventions are working documents, and are regularly updated in line with developments in the country concerned. Information on the number of Overseas Security and Justice Assitance assessments completed in previous years and a more detailed breakdown of applications requiring Ministerial approval is not held centrally and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.The guidance applies to any security and justice assistance from Her Majasty's Government that could result in changes to the laws, policies, practices or capabilities of foreign justice or security institutions and/or result in individuals being identified, investigated, arrested, detained, interviewed, interrogated, prosecuted, tried or sentenced by foreign authorities.

Islamic State: Accountability

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the creation of an international tribunal to provide a path to accountability for members of Isis.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The UK continues to work closely with international partners to seek a sustainable long-term solution to the complex issue of suspected Daesh terrorists in a way that delivers justice for their victims. We are committed to ensuring that those responsible for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity are brought to justice in accordance with due legal process. To this end, we are supporting UN efforts to gather evidence of Daesh crimes in Iraq and Syria and support prosecutions of suspected Daesh terrorists in Iraq.

Tibet: Human Rights and Political Prisoners

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps the Government is taking with the Chinese Government to help (a) secure the release of Tibetan political prisoners, (b) ensure access by independent observers to Tibet and (c) protect the human rights of the Tibetan people.

Mark Field: We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) including restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, and restrictions on freedom of assembly and association. We consistently urge China to respect all fundamental rights across the People's Republic of China, including in Tibet, in line with both its own constitution and the international frameworks to which it is a party. We believe that long-term stability in Tibet will be best achieved through respect for universal human rights and genuine autonomy for Tibet within the framework of the Chinese constitution. Meaningful dialogue is the best way to address and resolve the underlying grievances and we continue to urge all sides to restart talks. Further, the UK is active in raising Tibet in multilateral fora. We made a statement at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in June 2018 where we reiterated our concerns over restrictions on civil and political freedoms, particularly minority rights, and freedom of religion in China, including Tibet. Additionally, we asked an advanced question about Tibet at China’s last Universal Periodic Review, and included our concerns in our statement. We are also aware of, and concerned by, reports of the apparent increasing isolation of TAR through restrictions on foreign tourists, journalists and officials (including those representing the UN and EU) seeking to visit TAR. To this end, we are monitoring the progress and impact of the US Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, including through discussions with our US counterparts

Alia Abdel Nour

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will ask his Emirati counterpart to establish an urgent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of UAE prisoner of conscience Alia Abdel Nour, who passed away from breast cancer in Tawam hospital on 4 May 2019.

Dr Andrew Murrison: ​I refer the hon. Member to answer of 12 March 2019 (PQ 228081). We are aware of reports regarding the death of Alia Abdel Nour. Our close relationship with the United Arab Emirates allows us to discuss important issues and where the UK has cause for concern, we raise these concerns at official and Ministerial level.

China: Ethnic Groups

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Chinese counterpart in response to recent restrictions placed on the Uighur community during the month of Ramadan.

Mark Field: The Foreign Secretary has not to date made representations to his counterpart on the specific issue of reports of restrictions on the Uyghur community during Ramadan. However, Ministers and senior officials frequently raise with their Chinese counterparts our wider concerns about the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. During the Foreign Secretary’s most recent visit to China in July 2018, he raised this with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Additionally, we spoke publicly about the situation in Xinjiang at the 40th United Nations Human Rights Council in February and March. The Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, also raised our concerns during his opening address on 25 February, and the UK spoke about Xinjiang during our “Item 4” national statement on 12 March. Following this, we co-sponsored a side event on “Protecting the fundamental freedoms in Xinjiang” on 13 March. Further, in our statement at China’s Universal Periodic Review on 6 November, we made clear our concern about the treatment of Uyghurs in China. The UK issued a specific recommendation to China that it implements the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’s recommendations on Xinjiang and allows the UN to monitor the implementation​

Papua: Armed Conflict

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to tackle the political and conflict situation in West Papua as part of its role as the UN Security Council penholder on peacekeeping and protection of civilians in armed conflict.

Mark Field: The British Government follows the situation in Papua closely. We respect the territorial integrity of Indonesia. Officials at the Embassy in Jakarta, visit Papua and West Papua provinces regularly. I met the Indonesian Ambassador in January and raised Papua with him, and I addressed a parliamentary debate on the issue on 8 May.We fully support efforts by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and her officials to arrange a visit to Papua at the invitation of the Indonesian government. Officials in our Embassy in Jakarta have discussed the proposed visit with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and encouraged Indonesia to agree dates as soon as possible.

China: Detention Centres

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the extent of corruption within the (a) designing and planning, (b) constructing and physically maintaining and (c) running the network of detention camps targeting ethnic and religious minorities in Xinjiang, China.

Mark Field: We have not made an assessment of the extent of corruption within the so-called “re-education camps” in Xinjiang. Nevertheless, we have particularly serious concerns about the credible reports of over a million Uyghurs and other minorities being detained in these camps. Indeed, ministers and senior officials frequently raise the issue with their Chinese counterparts. The Foreign Secretary highlighted our concerns with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his most recent visit to China. Later that month, I did the same with my Chinese counterpart Vice Minister Guo Yezhou. Additionally, our Embassy in Beijing regularly raises the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang with the Chinese authorities. Further, we spoke publicly about the situation in the region at the 40th UN Human Rights Council in February and March. The Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, also raised our concerns during his opening address on 25 February, and the UK spoke about Xinjiang during our “Item 4” national statement on 12 March. Following this, we co-sponsored a side event on “Protecting the fundamental freedoms in Xinjiang” on 13 March which helped to raise awareness of the situation among the international community. Moreover, in our statement at China’s Universal Periodic Review on 6 November, we made clear our concern about the treatment of Uyghurs in China. The UK issued a specific recommendation to China that it implements the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’s recommendations on Xinjiang and allows the UN to monitor the implementation.

Salah Gosh

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) his officials have had meetings with the former Sudanese Intelligence Chief Salah Gosh since 1 May 2019.

Harriett Baldwin: ​No British Minister or official has had meetings with Salah Gosh since he was removed from his role as head of Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) on 13 April 2019.

Cabinet Office

Civil Service: North West

Jo Platt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of civil service jobs are in the North West region.

Oliver Dowden: This information is published at the following link: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/civilservicestatistics

Post Office: Contracts

Marion Fellows: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what contracts to provide services Government departments have with Post Office Ltd; and when each of those contracts expires; and what plans the Government has to (a) renew and (b) extend those contracts.

Oliver Dowden: This information is not centrally held as each department is responsible for its own procurement. Records of Government contracts above £10,000 in central government and £25,000 in the wider public sector are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

Post Office: Contracts

Marion Fellows: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what contracts Departments have had with the Post Office Ltd that (a) expired permanently and (b) expired and were awarded to a different bidder in each of the last three years.

Oliver Dowden: This information is not centrally held as each department is responsible for its own procurement. Records of Government contracts above £10,000 in central government and £25,000 in the wider public sector are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

Prime Minister: Staff

Justin Madders: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the proportion of staff working at 10 Downing Street who attended a state school.

Oliver Dowden: The Prime Minister’s Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office and is included in thisanswerInformation about schools attended by staff in my Department is not held centrally andcould only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Civil Service: Private Education

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of Civil Service Fast Stream entrants were  privately educated in each of the last five years.

Oliver Dowden: Fast Stream and Early Talent are committed to removing barriers to the success of diverse talent at the entry stage and beyond. The programmes are crucial pipelines for leadership roles, and our aim is to expand representation to match the relevant eligible populations and ensure we deliver on making Civil Service leadership reflective of the society it serves.Below is the information we hold from the years 2013-2018 on the proportion of Civil Service Fast Stream entrants that were privately educated. This data shows the proportion of successful candidates who were privately educated where the data is available.Independently educated, UK2013201420152016201723.50%23%25.20%28.60%n/a*  Independently educated, UK and overseas201830.4%** *Data from 2017 is missing due to information being stored on two different systems in that year which we cannot access.** In 2018 school type was classified differently with overseas figures included.

Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made a recent assessment of the merits of (a) life-cycle costing and (b) best price-quality ratio in relation to public procurement.

Oliver Dowden: UK public procurement policy is to award contracts on the basis of value for money, which means the optimal combination of cost and quality over the lifetime of the project. Public sector procurers are required to assess value for money from the perspective of the contracting authority, using criteria linked to the subject matter of the contract, including compliance with the published specificationDecisions on whether to outsource any particular service are made on a case by case basis according to Treasury guidance and the Outsourcing Playbook. This guidance aims to ensure government makes well evidenced assessments when deciding whether to outsource a public service and helps government and industry work better together to deliver high quality public services.

European Parliament: Elections

Ben Lake: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the Government has made of the UK’s compliance with Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union on the right to vote in the recent EU parliamentary elections.

Kevin Foster: Legislation has been in place since 1994 which ensures that the UK is in compliance withits European Union obligations regarding EU citizens’ right to vote in EuropeanParliamentary elections whilst resident in the UKThe Government took all the legal steps necessary to prepare for the EuropeanParliamentary elections and put in place all the legislative and funding elements to enableReturning Officers to make their preparations required for the polls.

European Parliament: Elections

Ben Lake: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance was issued to the Government by the Electoral Commission on the time required to ensure (a) EU citizens living in the UK and (b) UK citizens living in the EU would be able to vote in the EU parliamentary elections; and on what date his Department received that advice.

Kevin Foster: Government officials worked closely with Returning Officers and the Electoral Commission and other agencies such as the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) and the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA) to support the smooth running of the polls on 23 May. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are under a statutory duty to ensure people who are eligible to vote in elections have the opportunity to do so. For the recent European Parliamentary elections that included making sure relevant citizens of the EU who are resident in the UK and registered to vote in local elections were made aware they needed to complete a voter registration and declaration form (commonly referred to as a UC1 or EC6 form) in order to enable them to vote. On 5 April, the Electoral Commission published guidance for local returning officers and EROs on the upcoming European parliamentary elections. This guidance reminded EROs to prepare and issue UC1 forms to EU citizens on the electoral register. It also encouraged EROs to agree plans and timings for postal vote despatch, including plans on how to prioritise the despatch of overseas votes. Overseas voters include UK eligible citizens living in the EU.

European Parliament: Elections

Ben Lake: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department made of the capacity of local authorities to ensure EU citizens living in the UK were able to vote in the UK at the recent EU parliamentary elections.

Kevin Foster: Registration for elections is a matter for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). TheElectoral Commission provides guidance and advice to EROs and is responsible formonitoring their performance.The Electoral Commission supported EROs in the discharge of this function. It issued guidance onthe 4th April which recommended that EROs should identify EU citizens who are on the localgovernment register and send them a declaration form and supporting information explaining howthey can declare their intent to vote in these elections in the UK should they wish to.The Government worked with local authority elections staffincluding EROs and Returning Officers and with the Electoral Commission and otheragencies such as the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) and theAssociation of Electoral Administrators (AEA) to support the smooth running of the polls.

Government Departments: Procurement

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking across all Government departments to ensure social value is delivered in public procurement.

Oliver Dowden: We are extending the application of the Social Value Act in central government to ensure allmajor procurements explicitly evaluate social value where appropriate, rather than just‘consider’. This will ensure central government contracts take account of areas as diverse asthe employment of disabled people, the use of social enterprises, the prevention of modernslavery and the protection of the environmentWe are developing a simple, systematic approach to bring departments up to a consistent,minimum level of operating, and ensuring additional reporting does not add complexity orcost to the procurement process, restrict markets or exclude small businesses fromgovernment contractsGovernment is committed to train all 4,000 commercial buyers on how to take account ofsocial value and procure successfully from social enterprises - training for governmentcommercial staff will help unlock more opportunities for voluntary, community and socialenterprise organisations. We will also require all departments to report on the social impactof major new procurements.

Minimum Wage

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of people earning less than (a) £7.70 per hour and (b)  £8.21 per hour.

Kevin Foster: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 43.68 KB)

Sanitary Protection: Employment

Layla Moran: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any Government departments (a) offer free sanitary products in the workplace and (b) have plans to introduce such provision.

Oliver Dowden: The Cabinet Office does not hold this information centrally.

Civil Servants: Disability

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what additional support is provided to disabled applicants for civil service roles.

Oliver Dowden: The Civil Service is committed to becoming the UK’s most inclusive employer by 2020, and needs to recruit and retain diverse talent from all backgrounds; including people with a disabilityAll main government departments have achieved Disability Confident Leaders (level 3) status, the highest level on the Government’s new Disability Confident Scheme. The scheme provides employers with the tools to recruit, retain and develop disabled people, and acts as a catalyst for continuous improvement.  Departments have been introducing and piloting inclusive recruitment methods such as Diverse Panels, video attraction and strength-based selection. The Civil Service Disability Inclusion Programme works closely with the Government Recruitment Service to ensure that recruitment processes are fully accessible and inclusive to disabled people who are seeking to join the Civil Service.

European Parliament: Elections

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of non-UK EU citizens living in the UK who were unable to register to vote in the European parliamentary elections in (a) Slough (b) the UK.

Kevin Foster: Cabinet Office does not hold information on the number of non-UK EU citizens, resident inthe UK, who do or do not register to vote in European Parliamentary electionsEstimates of the number of eligible people on the registers for electoral events arepublished by the Electoral Commission following each poll, but have not previouslyincluded a breakdown of the numbers of EU citizens eligible to vote. These reports areavailable online at: www.electoralcommission.org.uk.Each Electoral Registration Officer maintains a register for their own local area. Someheadline registration statistics by area are collated and published annually by the Office forNational Statistics, however, this does not include a breakdown of the numbers of EUcitizens registered to vote. The total number of UK local government electors – whichincludes EU citizens – in the year to December 2018 was 47.8 millionThe latest bulletin is available at:www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/elections/electoralregistration.

Department of Health and Social Care

Cannabis: Medical Treatments

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all patients who would benefit from medical cannabis are able to access that treatment on prescription on the NHS.

Seema Kennedy: Cannabis-based products for medicinal use are no different from other medicines, and existing systems for the funding of both licensed and unlicensed medicines apply.Any medicines which receive a marketing authorisation from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency or European Medicines Agency will be assessed for cost effectiveness by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. This is the foundation of National Health Service decisions about routine funding, and applies to all licensed medicines. For unlicensed medicines, the normal NHS medicines governance systems apply, as they do to all locally funded unlicensed treatments. These processes support good clinical practice and safe and effective prescribing. Decisions will be taken, at NHS Trust level on a case by case basis, based on the needs of the individual patient and the evidence of efficacy and cost effectiveness available.My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has heard patients report difficulties in accessing medicinal cannabis. As a result, he asked the Department to work closely with NHS England to undertake a rapid process evaluation. This is underway and will review NHS system processes to identify and make recommendations to address any barriers to clinically appropriate prescribing, should they exist.

Dentistry: Vacancies

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) dentist and (b) dental nurse vacancies there have been in the UK in each of the last five years.

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps his Department has taken to tackle shortages of (a) dentists and (b) dental nurses.

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Department has to tackle shortages of (a) dentists and (b) dental nurses in (i) rural and (ii) deprived areas.

Seema Kennedy: Information is not held by NHS England on vacancies for dentists or dental nurses in England. Primary care dentistry is provided by independent contractors who may sub contract with other dentists (associates) to deliver the contracted level of NHS service. dental care professionals, which include dental nurses, hygienists and therapists may deliver National Health Service care but are employed privately by the contract holder so no information on this group of staff is held by the NHS.The Department and NHS England take reports of difficulty in recruiting dentists and any dental care professionals needed to deliver appropriate levels of NHS care very seriously. NHS England which is responsible for commissioning dentistry is aware of reports of difficulty in recruitment of dentists in more isolated areas and is closely monitoring the situation.Longer term plans to support the sustainability of the NHS workforce including dentists and dental care professionals is set out in the Interim NHS People Plan.Health Education England’s Advancing Dental Care programme is exploring the opportunities for developing flexible dental training pathways.This programme sits alongside the Department’s and NHS England’s work on reforming the current dental contract and providing NHS dental services with an increased focus on improving oral health and increasing access to dental services.

Dentistry: Training

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Department has to increase the number of Foundation Dentist's places.

Seema Kennedy: Responsibility for the provision of training places for foundation dentists rests with Health Education England (HEE). HEE advises it has no current plans to increase the number of training places.HEE aims to ensure there are dental foundation training places for all qualified graduates of English dental schools. HEE advises that in the last two years, all qualified graduates of English dental schools who applied for a training place in England obtained one.

Dementia: Health Services

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of the NHS budget is spent on dementia care.

Caroline Dinenage: This information is not held centrally.NHS England allocates funding to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and specialised commissioning which commission services on behalf of their local populations. It is for CCGs and specialised commissioning to decide how best to use the funding allocated to them in line with local healthcare needs and priorities, working with other local commissioners and organisations.

5G: Health Hazards

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what investigations the Government has commissioned on the health and safety implications of the 5G rollout.

Seema Kennedy: Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and health evidence reviews have been prepared by scientific expert groups in the United Kingdom and around the world. The independent Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation (AGNIR) published their report in the UK in 2012 and the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) published their report in 2015. The World Health Organization is presently preparing a review. The AGNIR report is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/radiofrequency-electromagnetic-fields-health-effects The SCENIHR report is available at the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/scientific_committees/docs/citizens_emf_en.pdf Based on the accumulated evidence and reviews, Public Health England (PHE) advises that the guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) should be adopted and there is no convincing evidence that EMF exposures below the ICNIRP guideline levels cause adverse health effects. PHE has committed to keeping the emerging evidence under review and to preparing another comprehensive review when sufficient new evidence has accumulated.

NHS: Sexual Harassment

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle sexual harassment of NHS staff by members of the public.

Stephen Hammond: Employers are responsible for protecting their staff from sexual harassment by members of the public. Sexual harassment, a form of unlawful discrimination, should not be tolerated under any circumstances so staff who believe they have been subjected to it should report the incident(s). Employers should ensure they fully support these staff and work with them to ensure appropriate legal action is taken against perpetrators.Our “call to action” to tackle bullying and harassment, led by the NHS Social Partnership Forum, chaired by Departmental ministers, is working with National Health Service system leaders, NHS organisations, staff and unions, to encourage the leadership and culture change required to eradicate bullying and all forms of harassment of our people. Now in its third year, one of the “call to action” priorities is tackling sexual harassment.The partnership approach being adopted through our “call to action” will be built on by the interim NHS People Plan, published on 3 June 2019 which, over the summer, will develop a new offer for staff, part of which will be how to “create a healthy, inclusive and compassionate culture” including a focus on tackling bullying and harassment”.The planned interventions and financial commitments from the “up to £2 million per year” allocated in the NHS Long Term Plan to tackling bullying and violence against staff, will be set out in the final NHS People Plan to be published after the Government’s Spending Review later this year.

Asthma: Medical Equipment

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all asthma inhalers are recycled.

Seema Kennedy: The Sustainable Development Unit (SDU), a joint NHS England and Public Health England unit, has established a cross sector working group on low carbon inhalers. The group includes representation from a number of patient and clinician groups, as well as cross Government representation.The SDU have recently reviewed a scheme operated by GSK that encourages return of inhalers for recycling, including recovery of the F-gases for reuse. The scheme is very welcome but limited in scope. The SDU has therefore invited industry suggestions to the national Low Carbon Inhalers Working Group on ways to increase recovery for environmentally safe disposal and recycling.Furthermore, a cross system approach is now being developed into a system wide implementation plan, with specific actions being delivered by individual members of the group. All actions are supporting progress towards or exceed the NHS Long Term Plan commitment on low carbon inhalers. This will contribute to the overall National Health Service commitment in the Long Term Plan to reduce carbon emissions in line with the Climate Change Act.

Cancer: Health Services

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Cancer Strategy 2015-2020 remains a statement of current Government priorities in cancer care and treatment.

Seema Kennedy: Government priorities for cancer care and treatment are set out in the NHS Long Term Plan, published in January this year. The NHS Long Term Plan builds on the Cancer Taskforce Report (2015), going further on its ambitions on survival and early diagnosis so that by 2028 we diagnose three-quarters of cancer patients at an early stage and see an extra 55,000 people each year survive cancer by five years or more following their diagnosis.

Cancer: Drugs

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding has been allocated to the Cancer Drugs Fund in each year since July 2016.

Seema Kennedy: The Cancer Drugs Fund has had a fixed annual budget of £340 million for each year since July 2016.

Cancer: Drugs

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the operational review of the Cancer Drugs Fund will be published.

Seema Kennedy: An operational review of the Cancer Drugs Fund is currently underway and will be published this year.

Cancer: Drugs

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Cancer Drugs Fund in meeting the needs of people with rarer and less common cancers.

Seema Kennedy: Following the reforms to the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) in July 2016 all new cancer drugs and significant new licensed indications for existing drugs are referred to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). This included the referral of all licensed cancer drug indications for rare cancers that had not previously been assessed by NICE.This has led to an increase in the number, and proportion, of NICE appraisals of treatments for rare cancers. Since July 2016 21% or 24 out of 114 cancer drugs appraised by NICE have been for rarer cancers, compared to 9% or 18 out of 200, before the CDF reforms. Of these 24 drugs for rare cancers, 22 have been recommended for routine commissioning and two for use within the CDF. This shows that changes to the appraisal and funding of cancer drugs has led to an increase in the number of treatments for rare cancers both assessed by NICE and funded by NHS England in routine commissioning and via the CDF.

Haematological Cancer: Nurses

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many clinical nurse specialists there are with a specialism in blood cancer.

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many clinical nurse specialists there were per patient with blood cancer in (a) 2015, (b) 2016 and (c) 2017.

Seema Kennedy: NHS Digital publishes hospital and community health services workforce statistics for NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups in England. However, NHS Digital does not separately identify specialist nurses such as clinical nurse specialists or those with a specialism of blood cancer.

Haematological Cancer: Nurses

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will commit to providing a clinical nurse specialist for every patient with blood cancer by the end of 2019.

Seema Kennedy: NHS England is committed to delivering the Long Term Plan which includes the requirement for all patients, including those with secondary cancers, to have access to the right expertise and support, including a clinical nurse specialist or other support worker.

Haematological Cancer: Health Services

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that every blood cancer patient has a guaranteed care plan made in conjunction with the patient.

Seema Kennedy: In line with the Long Term Plan, by 2021 every cancer patient will be offered personalised care and support planning, based on a holistic needs assessment, done in conjunction with the patient and in accordance with the NHS England Comprehensive Personalised Care model. This will be offered whether the person is due to undergo treatment or not, and includes people at all stages of blood cancer.

Diabetes: Mental Illness

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people living with diabetes are also affected by mental health conditions.

Seema Kennedy: The 2016-17 National Diabetes Audit (NDA) for England and Wales reported that there were 2,450 people with type 1 diabetes and 61,470 people with type 2 and other diabetes who were diagnosed with a severe mental illness. Notes:Severe mental illness is where a diagnosis of severe mental illness is recorded in the person’s general practitioner (GP) practice record. Severe mental illness is defined as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other psychoses.Diabetes type is reported as ‘Type 1’ and ‘Type 2 and other’ within the NDA.‘Type 1’ includes where a person is recorded as having type 1 diabetes in the NDA.‘Type 2 and other’ includes where a person is recorded as having type 2 diabetes, Maturity-onset Diabetes of the Young, other or non-specified diabetes in the NDA.Figures are based on people with diabetes who have a primary care record and disclosure control has been applied, as per the NDA publication. All numbers are rounded to the nearest five, unless the number is one to seven, in which case it is rounded to ‘5’.

Chronic Illnesses: Mental Health

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the mental health of people with long term conditions.

Jackie Doyle-Price: On 21 March 2018, NHS England and NHS Improvement along with the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health published 'The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Pathway for People with Long-term Physical Health Conditions and Medically Unexplained Symptoms' which is available at the following link:www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/improving-access-to-psychological-therapies-long-term-conditions-pathway.pdf The guidance outlines the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) pathway, and accompanying benchmarks, to support the national expansion of IAPT services for adults with depression and anxiety disorders who also have long term conditions (such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or muscular dystrophy) and medically unexplained symptoms (such as chronic fatigue syndrome or irritable bowel syndrome). The expansion will see IAPT services co-located in existing primary and secondary care physical health pathways.

NHS: Staff

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the merits of legislation that has been introduced in Scotland to promote safe levels of staffing in the NHS.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department is aware that legislation has been introduced in Scotland to provide a statutory basis for the provision of appropriate staffing in health and care service settings based upon workload planning tools.In England, the 16 safety and quality requirements set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 already place a duty on health care providers on the deployment of sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, competent, skilled and experienced staff.Appropriate staffing levels are a core element of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) registration regime and all providers of regulated services must be registered with the CQC and meet the registration requirements.The National Quality Board for England has issued guidance to support trusts as they discharge this responsibility through their own local processes.

Patients: Accidents

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patient falls were recorded in NHS hospitals in each of the last 10 years.

Caroline Dinenage: The following answer is based on data provided by NHS England and NHS Improvement.The following table provides the total number of reported 'slips, falls and trips' of National Health Service patients in hospitals in England by financial year for the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2019 and reported by 4 June 2019. 2009/10274,3132010/11275,9452011/12273,2642012/13267,4512013/14257,6672014/15259,4812015/16251,0192016/17249,6042017/18241,1462018/19226,500Total2,576,390Source: National Reporting and Learning System

Psychiatry

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many specialist addiction psychiatrists have been employed in NHS hospitals in each year since 2010.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS Digital publishes hospital and community health services workforce statistics for National Health Service trusts and clinical commissioning groups in England. However, the information held by NHS Digital does not capture sufficient level of detail to identify specialist addiction psychiatrists.

Coeliac Disease: Prescriptions

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to subsidise the cost of gluten-free products on the NHS for sufferers of coeliac disease.

Seema Kennedy: The Department has no plans to subsidise the cost of gluten-free products. Following consultation with major stakeholders such as Coeliac UK, changes were made to legislation in 2018. As a result, gluten-free bread and mixes can be prescribed on the National Health Service to support sufferers of coeliac disease. This ensures the best use of NHS resources while maintaining availability of gluten-free foods for patients on prescription.

Community Nurses

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of district nurses; and what steps he is taking to increase the (a) retention and (b) recruitment of district nurses.

Stephen Hammond: The latest NHS Digital workforce statistics (February 2019) showed that there were 4,324 full-time equivalent district nurses working in National Health Service trusts.NHS Improvement and NHS Employers are working in partnership to support trusts to improve retention of the whole nursing workforce including district nurses. They offer targeted support to trusts to collaborate on key issues affecting retention such as flexible working, supporting new starters and older workers, and development and career planning.Health Education England (HEE) is responsible for setting the number of District Nurse Specialist Practitioner Qualification training places available each year in England, which is based on its assessment of service gaps and predicted workforce needs.HEE has agreed to provide funding for all community nursing specialist practice qualifications until 2020. In addition to this, a District Nurse (Level 7) Apprenticeship standard is currently in development, which will provide an alternative route into the profession.

Social Services

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the social care Green Paper.

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on what date he plans to publish the social care Green Paper.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the forthcoming social care Green Paper will have a chapter dedicated to improving support for autistic adults.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the needs of disabled adults will be reflected in the social care Green Paper.

Caroline Dinenage: The Green Paper on social care will set out our vision for improving care and support for all adults. It will reflect key principles such as the importance of supporting people to live as independently as possible and putting people in control of their care and support.The Green Paper remains a priority for the Government. We are continuing to work on it closely, taking the time to consult with key stakeholders and take their feedback into consideration. As such, it will be published at the earliest opportunity.

Cancer: Diagnosis

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that NICE Guideline 12, for suspected cancers, is being adhered to.

Seema Kennedy: The Department expects all clinicians to use the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines to inform their clinical practice. NICE published an updated suspected cancer referral guideline in June 2015 which encourages general practitioners (GPs) to think of cancer sooner and lowers the threshold for referral. The NHS Long Term Plan reaffirms that all GPs should use the latest evidence-based guidance from NICE to identify children, young people and adults at risk of cancer. Primary care networks will be required to help improve early diagnosis of patients in their own neighbourhoods by 2023/24 (s3.57).

Cancer: Diagnosis

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were diagnosed with cancer through the NICE Guideline 12 pathway in (a) 2016, (b) 2017 and (c) 2018.

Seema Kennedy: In 2018, 2.2 million patients underwent cancer checks following urgent referral by their general practitioner. That was an increase of almost a quarter of a million on the 1.9 million people who were seen in 2017. The diagnosis figures for the years requested are as follows: 2016: 143,1222017: 148,9552018: 160,275

Cancer: Diagnosis

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the ability of GPs and health professionals to understand and use NICE Guideline 12.

Seema Kennedy: The Department expects all clinicians to use the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines to inform their clinical practice. NICE published an updated suspected cancer referral guideline in June 2015 which encourages general ractitioners to think of cancer sooner and lowers the threshold for referral.A report published by NICE in January 2018 on uptake of NICE cancer guidelines states: “The annual number of people being urgently referred to a specialist has increased since the publication of NICE’s guideline on suspected cancer: there were over 300,000 more urgent referrals in 2016/17 than in 2014/15.”

Cancer: Nurses

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Harding review will address the shortage of clinical nurse specialists for people undergoing cancer treatment.

Seema Kennedy: The NHS Long Term Plan set out that by 2021, where appropriate, every person diagnosed with cancer will have access to personalised care, including needs assessment, a care plan and health and wellbeing information and support. All patients, including those with secondary cancers, will have access to the right expertise and support, including a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) or other support worker.In the 2017 Cancer Patient Experience Survey, 91% of patients reported having access to a CNS.

National Cancer Screening Programmes in England Review

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the interim report: Independent Review of National Cancer Screening Programmes, published May 2019, whether he plans to increase support for the recruitment and training of new cancer experts to enable NHS services to cope with increasing demand for cancer services over the next 10 years.

Seema Kennedy: The National Health Service currently has a record number of specialist cancer staff and has committed to recruit an additional 1,500 staff across seven priority cancer specialisms by 2021. The NHS interim People Plan, published on 3 June 2019, acknowledges that further action must be taken to increase the numbers of nurses in this field. It will undertake a detailed review of all branches of nursing in advance of the full People Plan, in order to identify steps to grow and recruit a world class cancer workforce to the NHS.

NHS: Mental Health

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to protect the mental health of NHS staff.

Stephen Hammond: Employers across the National Health Service are responsible for protecting the mental health of their staff. This has been identified as a priority in the interim NHS People Plan, published on 3 June, which says “we will develop a new offer with our people setting out explicitly the support they can expect from the NHS as a modern employer”….“Ensuring everyone feels they have voice, control and influence, including a focus on (amongst other issues) staff physical and mental health and wellbeing and reducing sickness absence”.This new offer will be developed over the summer and published in the final People Plan after the Government’s spending review later this year. It is expected to address the staffing pressures causing stress and burnout by implementing recommendations from the recent Health Education England report on NHS staff and learner wellbeing, which set out some of the most serious causes of harm to our people’s mental health and wellbeing. Staff can already report working excess hours via their employer’s “Guardian of Safe Practice”.The interim People Plan will build on the good work already underway across the NHS to protect staff mental health through the NHS staff health and wellbeing framework which helps organisations diagnose and implement services to meet staff needs including, for example, counselling and talking therapies to support their mental health.The Framework and NHS Improvement’s NHS staff health and wellbeing collaborative of 73 trusts are incorporating the core and enhanced mental health standards from ‘Thriving at Work – a review of mental health and employers’ commissioned by the Government from the mental health charity MIND.NHS England’s 2017/19 Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) incentive scheme has also been encouraging organisations to put in place appropriate interventions to support staff mental health based on improvements to the NHS Staff Survey question: “During the last 12 months have you felt unwell as a result of work related stress?” with providers expected to achieve an improvement of 5% points in the answer “no” compared to baseline staff survey results or achieve 75% of staff surveyed answering “no”.The Department, over a number of years, has commissioned NHS Employers to provide a wide range of advice, guidance and good practice to support trusts in maintaining and improving their staff mental health and wellbeing.

Sepsis

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of deaths caused by sepsis; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage: Since the formation of NHS England’s Cross-System Sepsis Programme Board in 2015, good progress has been made in both recognising sepsis early and improving outcomes.The Programme Board brings together a group of front-line experts from across the health and care system to take action to improve the identification, diagnosis and management of sepsis in children, young people and adults across the National Health Service.In April 2018, a National Early Warning Score patient safety alert was issued to support providers to adopt the revised National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) to detect deterioration in adult patients, including those with suspected sepsis.In September 2018, the Government launched a suspicion of sepsis dashboard. This allows hospitals to identify how many patients are admitted with a severe bacterial infection, are at risk of sepsis, to track their improvements, and supports clinicians in identifying patients who should be screened for sepsis.The United Kingdom’s five-year national action plan for antimicrobial resistance (AMR), published in January 2019, includes the commitment to develop a real-time patient level data source of patient’s infection, treatment and resistance history which will be used to inform their treatment and the development of interventions to tackle severe infection, sepsis and AMR.

Organs: Donors

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to encourage organ donation.

Jackie Doyle-Price: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Solihull on 9 April 2019 to Question 240020.A number of steps are being taken, including the implementation of the UK-wide ‘Taking Organ Transplantation to 2020’ Strategy (2013); the introduction of the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent Act) 2019 from 2020 which will introduce a new system of consent for organ and tissue donation in England; a 12-month communication campaign, launched by NHS Blood and Transplant on 25 April 2019, to raise awareness of these changes and the options available under the new system; and, from 2020, teaching of the science relating to blood, organ and stem cell donation in all state-funded primary and secondary schools.Shortages of organs for transplant are relevant to people from all backgrounds but are particularly acute for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) patients, who are more likely to need an organ transplant. It is for this reason the Department launched a campaign in July 2018, delivered by NHS Blood and Transplant, with support from the National Black, Asian, Mixed Race and Minority Ethnic Transplant Alliance, to raise awareness and break down barriers to donation within these communities. A Community Investment Scheme was also launched and in January 2019, 25 projects were successful in sharing £140,000 in funding to break down myths and barriers and increase support for organ donation among BAME communities. Organisations representing Jain, Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Swahili, black and Asian Christians, black African and Caribbean and multi-faith groups received funding for their projects.A toolkit is available to help hon. Members engage locally which includes details of the resources available to support such engagement. This is available at the following link:http://bit.ly/bameODtoolkit

Autism and Learning Disability

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that health and care workers meet the needs of people with learning disabilities and autism.

Caroline Dinenage: Having staff that are well trained is essential to the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate care.In the Government’s response to the second annual report of the Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) programme, which we published on 12 September 2018, the Department and its partner organisations committed to a series of actions to increase the uptake of learning disability training.One of the actions in the Government’s response was to consult on proposals for mandatory learning disability and autism training for health and care staff. The consultation has recently concluded, receiving in excess of 5,000 responses. These are being analysed and we will set out in due course our response to the consultation and proposals to introduce mandatory training.The Department also commissioned the development of the Learning Disability Core Skills Education and Training Framework. Published in July 2016, the framework sets out the essential skills and knowledge needed for all staff working with people with a learning disability in health and social care settings and aims to support the development and delivery of appropriate and consistent cross-sector learning disabilities education and training.Health Education England is developing free online e-learning materials to support Tier 1 learning disability training, which will be relevant for roles that require a general awareness of learning disabilities.Health Education England has also funded the development of a new autism core capabilities framework for health and care staff, and staff in organisations with public facing responsibilities. The framework, which will span all ages, will support workforce planning and development and inform the design and delivery of education and training programmes. The framework will be published shortly.The provision of reasonable adjustments is also critical in improving the experience of health and care for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. This will be supported through the inclusion of a reasonable adjustment ‘digital flag’ accessible in the patient record or through summary care record, to alert National Health Service staff to make the necessary service adjustments that improve health outcomes for people with a learning disability or autistic people. The Long Term Plan for the NHS commits to the introduction of the digital flag by 2023/24.

Smoking

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government has made an assessment of the effect of second hand smoke from residential properties on people in neighbouring properties; and whether he has plans to extend the smoking ban to private homes.

Seema Kennedy: The Government has made no such assessment. However, the Government remains committed to protecting the public from the harms of smoking and a comprehensive set of tobacco control policies is in place. There are no plans to extend the smoking ban to private homes.

Maternity Services: Safety

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the baseline budget for the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch maternity programme is for 2019-2020, and how many maternity investigations he expects to be funded by that budget.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of the average Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch maternity investigation cost of £19,000 is for training of maternity investigators; and whether that cost will be taken forward in future years.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average time taken was to complete the initial 14 maternity investigations undertaken by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch maternity programme since its establishment in April 2018.

Jackie Doyle-Price: This response is based on information provided by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB).The 2019/20 baseline budget for the HSIB maternity programme is £16 million. This provides funding for 1,000 investigations each year.HSIB has budgeted the cost of training maternity investigators at 3.6% of each investigation. This is equivalent to £684 of the £19,000. The training cost will be taken forward to future years as investigators are employed on a one-year fixed term basis or on a secondment.The average time taken to complete the initial 14 maternity investigations is 35.7 weeks. The time spent on each investigation varies due to factors such as the complexity of the case, family engagement, trust engagement and availability of specialist advice.

Air Pollution: Health Hazards

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of air pollution-related illness to the NHS.

Seema Kennedy: Public Health England (PHE) estimated the potential health burden and costs to the National Health Service and social care system arising due to diseases related to air pollution. Between 2017 and 2025, the total cost to the NHS and social care of air pollution in England is estimated to be £1.60 billion for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) combined (£1.54 billion for PM2.5 and £60.81 million for NO2) where there is robust evidence for an association between exposure and disease. Where there is less robust evidence for an association, then the estimate is increased to an overall total of £2.81 billion for PM2.5 and £2.75 billion for NO2 in England between 2017 and 2025. The PHE estimation of costs to the NHS and social care due to the health impacts of air pollution report and tool can be viewed at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/air-pollution-a-tool-to-estimate-healthcare-costs

Animal Products: Labelling

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the costs which will be accrued as a result of the cost of changing stamps bearing the UK's ISO mark for animal products from EC to GB if the UK leaves the EU.

Seema Kennedy: As part of preparations for leaving the European Union, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has taken steps to change the United Kingdom’s health and identification marks so that products of animal origin can continue to be exported to the EU and non-EU countries, should the UK leave the EU in a no deal situation.FSA operational staff apply the health mark, sometimes referred to as the health stamp to meat carcases to indicate that the product has been inspected and passed fit for human consumption. The FSA has procured and distributed new health marks to all its operational staff located in England and Wales at an approximate cost of £50,000.Further guidance on the form of the new health and identification mark is publicly available on the FSA’s website at the following link:https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/eu-exit-changes-to-health-and-identification-marks

Doctors: Training

Mr Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of embedding molecular biology, data literacy and human factors training into undergraduate and postgraduate medical curricula, as recommended by the Royal College of Surgeons’ Commission on the Future of Surgery.

Stephen Hammond: Each individual medical school sets its own undergraduate medical curriculum. The delivery of the undergraduate curriculum has to meet the standards set by the General Medical Council (GMC), who then monitor and check to make sure that these standards are maintained. Curricula for medical training are designed to develop the skills and attributes required of doctors to deal effectively with whatever is presented to them.The standards require the curriculum to be formed in a way that allows all medical students to meet the GMC’s Outcomes for Graduates by the time they complete their medical degree, which describe knowledge, skills and behaviour they have to show as newly registered doctors. The GMC updated the Outcomes for Graduates in 2018, following extensive engagement and consultation with medical education experts. The new version, which schools have to align their curricula to by 2020, includes principles and knowledge relating to molecular biology, describing human factors principles and practice and critical appraisal and analysis of clinical data.The curricula for postgraduate specialty training is set by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges for foundation training, and by individual royal colleges and faculties for specialty training. The GMC approves curricula and assessment systems for each training programme.The GMC, with input from Health Education England and the devolved administrations, is currently reviewing postgraduate curricula to ensure they reflect general professional capabilities and meet future patient and service needs. Generic professional capabilities are a high level framework of common generic outcomes and content across all postgraduate medical curricula, and this includes the requirement for doctors to demonstrate and apply basic Human Factors principles and practice at individual, team, organisational and system levels.

Surgery: Robotics

Mr Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help the NHS (a) plan and purchase new surgical robotics systems and (b) ensure equitable patient access to those systems.

Seema Kennedy: Surgical robots have been used by the National Health Service since 2004 and are available for a range of treatments. It is a matter for NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts to decide, within guidelines, what systems they will use for a given procedure, and the most appropriate way to treat any individual patient. The NHS will continue to evaluate new developments in technology, but any new system must prove its efficacy, safety and value over and above what is used currently.

Surgery

Mr Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the recommendations made by the Commission on the Future of Surgery, published by the Royal College of Surgeons, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the (a) interoperability and (b) safe data sharing of different data systems.

Jackie Doyle-Price: On 17 October 2018, NHS Digital published the National Health Service digital, data and technology standards framework setting out key expectations for the use of data, interoperability, security and design standards within the NHS at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/about-nhs-digital/our-work/nhs-digital-data-and-technology-standards/framework#principles Specifically, it sets out that all NHS digital, data and technology services should support Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources-based application programming interfaces to enable the delivery of seamless care across organisational boundaries. The Department has also created NHSX - a new unit dedicated to improving the technology experience within the NHS. NHSX has committed to ensure that future IT systems procured or developed by the NHS will adhere to a range of standards covering the content and format of information as well as ensuring any sharing of information meets the highest standards of safety and privacy. Safe data sharing is vital to the health and care system. We have already put in over £60 million to improve cyber resilience in hospitals and ambulance services and we’re continuing to invest in capabilities to prevent, detect and respond to cyber-attacks in real time. In addition, all organisations that have access to NHS patient data must complete the Data Security and Protection Toolkit which includes a single set of standards to help them improve their cyber security and carry out self-assessments to measure how well they are doing, and how much they still need to do.

Influenza: Vaccination

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps is he taking to ensure the adequacy of supplies of flu vaccine for autumn 2019.

Seema Kennedy: Public Health England (PHE) provides flu vaccines centrally for the children’s flu programme. Sufficient vaccine has been procured to ensure that all eligible children who present for vaccination can be offered the appropriate vaccine.General practitioners and other providers are directly responsible for ordering flu vaccine from suppliers which are used to deliver the national flu programme to the other eligible groups. PHE and NHS England maintain oversight at a national level to help facilitate a constant supply of vaccine.

Dermatology: Wolverhampton

Eleanor Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his Department is providing to (a) Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and (b) other local NHS Trusts who are exploring redesigning dermatology services towards the community; and what steps he will take to ensure patient access to dermatology services is maintained.

Seema Kennedy: The commissioning and configuration of dermatology services in England is a local matter. The local National Health Service is best placed to make decisions that ensure services meet the needs of resident populations in the most appropriate way. Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for commissioning the vast majority of dermatology services. The majority of patients with dermatological disorders are managed in primary and community care. Wolverhampton CCG is currently re-procuring its community dermatology service which will encompass an extended range of services. This procurement has been undertaken with the knowledge and co-operation of Royal Wolverhampton Trust. The Royal Wolverhampton Trust is also exploring with other trusts how to make the best use of scarce dermatology staff by working with each other more closely.

NHS: Staff

Eleanor Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to engage frontline staff in shaping the implementation and delivery of the Workforce Strategy; and what further work is planned to examine (a) dermatology and (b) other specific specialities as part of that strategy.

Stephen Hammond: The National Health Service published its interim People Plan on 3 June. It sets out a plan of action to meet the long-term challenges of supply, reform, culture and leadership, and puts NHS people at the heart of NHS policy and delivery.In developing this plan, the NHS has engaged widely with staff, patients, employers, professional organisations, regulatory bodies, voluntary sector, academia and other experts.In advance of publishing the final People Plan, the NHS will establish a national programme board to address geographical and specialty shortages in medicine. We expect the final People Plan to be published soon after the Spending Review.

Prescription Drugs

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many prescriptions of (a) individual benzodiazepine drugs and (b) individual antidepressants were dispensed in the community in 2018.

Seema Kennedy: Information on the number of prescription items from the Prescription Cost Analysis system for benzodiazepines and antidepressants written in the United Kingdom and dispensed in the community in England, for the year 2018 can be found in the attached tables.The data available is at prescription item level by presentation. Prescriptions are prescribed either by a paper prescription form or via an Electronic Prescription Service message. Each single item written on the form is counted as a prescription item. No information is available for those prescriptions written but not dispensed.

Pregnancy: Screening

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 May 2019 to Question 251992, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of proactively offering 36-week ultrasound scans to identify breech babies.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for providing authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service. The NICE clinical guideline on antenatal care was published in 2008 and states that fetal presentation should be assessed by abdominal palpation at 36 weeks or later. The guideline also states that evidence does not support the routine use of ultrasound scanning after 24 weeks of gestation and therefore should not be offered.The evidence considered by NICE in developing its recommendations can be found in NICE’s full guideline at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg62/evidence/full-guideline-pdf-196748323However, NICE is currently updating this guideline, including its recommendations relating to monitoring fetal growth and wellbeing and expects to publish final updated guidance in December 2020 with a public consultation in summer 2020.

Counselling: Sign Language

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who is responsible for commissioning deaf-focused NHS counselling using British sign language counsellors.

Caroline Dinenage: NHS England commissions specialised mental health services for children, young people and adults who are deaf. These include inpatient and outreach services for children and young people and services for adults who require inpatient care, including care in secure mental health services.

NHS: Advertising

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much has been spent on online advertising and campaigns by all NHS bodies in each of the last three years.

Stephen Hammond: The Department does not hold financial data at the level requested to provide the information.

Medical Examinations: Sexual Offences

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of making it mandatory to offer forensic medical examinations to victims of sexual assault regardless of whether those victims plan to report that assault to the police.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department has not made an assessment of making an offer of forensic medical examinations to victims of sexual assault mandatory. NHS England commissions Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) that aim to provide the best possible response for victims, ensuring their health needs and overall wellbeing are met. At the SARC, there is an offer of a forensic medical examination, if clinically appropriate to do so, available to all clients.

Parasitic Diseases: Screening

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the amount that is planned to be spent by the Food Standards Agency on trichinella testing in each of the next five years.

Seema Kennedy: The cost of trichinella testing is dependent on the number of pigs slaughtered in any given year. In 2018/19 approximately £565,000 was spent on trichinella testing of which £275,000 was recovered through charges for official controls.The current requirements for trichinella testing will be maintained when the United Kingdom leaves the European Union and although the Food Standards Agency works in a dynamic environment with costs dependent on many factors, there is no evidence to suggest that expenditure will change significantly over the next five-year period.

Parasitic Diseases: Screening

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of ensuring that standards of testing for trichinella are maintained after the UK leaves the EU.

Seema Kennedy: The United Kingdom will maintain the requirements of European Union food safety legislation after leaving the EU. This will ensure that food standards applicable to both domestically produced and imported food are maintained and that UK food businesses continue to apply controls that are widely accepted by other countries.It is not possible to determine an exact figure for trichinella costs going forward as this is dependent on the number of pigs slaughtered in a particular year, however, the UK will maintain the current testing requirements and the costs associated with testing should similarly remain the same.In financial year 2018/19, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) spent approximately £565,000 on trichinella testing of which £275,000 was recovered through charges for official controls. The FSA will ensure that the resources required to maintain standards and level of testing for trichinella control are available after exit.

Antibiotics

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to fully implement the pilot scheme for de-linking the payments made to companies from the volumes of antibiotics sold.

Seema Kennedy: The United Kingdom national action plan for antimicrobial resistance (AMR), published on 24 January 2019, includes the commitment to lead the way in testing solutions that address the failure of companies to invest in the development of new antimicrobials. New models that pay companies for antibiotics based primarily on a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) led health technology assessment of their value to the National Health Service, as opposed to the volumes used, are in development.The project is co-sponsored by NICE and NHS England, with the Department taking an oversight role. Governance arrangements are being finalised and the central project team is in place.This is complex and world-leading work that will involve the development of an evaluation framework and commercial model, as well as undertaking a value assessment for the products included in the test.It is anticipated to take between 18 months to two years before payments are implemented.

Antimicrobials: Drug Resistance

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on the implementation of the Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plan 2019-2024; and if he will make a statement.

Seema Kennedy: The Department is working closely across Government to finalise governance arrangements and plans for implementing the commitments set out in the United Kingdom’s five-year national action plan for antimicrobial resistance (AMR).We anticipate that the first cross-Government UK AMR national action plan Delivery Board will meet in the summer. This board will be responsible for overseeing and driving delivery of the commitments in the national action plan and will receive regular reports on progress against the national ambitions.

Malnutrition: Older People

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the 2015 British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition and NIHR report entitled The Cost of Malnutrition in England and potential cost savings form nutritional interventions which found that half the £19.6 billion annual cost of malnutrition relates to care for people over 65.

Seema Kennedy: The Government has made no such assessment.The NHS England guidance ‘Commissioning Excellent Nutrition and Hydration (2015-2018)’ supports commissioners to develop strategies and address issues related to improvements in delivery and commissioning of nutrition and hydration needs in acute services and the community. The guidance has been developed in conjunction with key partners including the British Dietetic Association and the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.In addition, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is responsible for publishing clinical guidelines for the National Health Service. ‘Nutrition support for adults: oral feeding, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition’ (NICE Clinical Guideline 32) provides advice to the NHS to help identify patients who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition and was most recently reviewed by NICE in July 2017. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs24Building on this guidance, further steps have been taken to support screening and recording of malnutrition in hospitals and other healthcare settings.A 'Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool' ('MUST') has been developed by the Malnutrition Advisory Group. The tool is supported by governmental and non-governmental organisations, such as the Royal College of Nursing, and is the most commonly used screening tool in the United Kingdom. Further information is available at the following link:http://www.malnutritionselfscreening.org/self-screening.htmlThe Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 set out the fundamental standards of care, which must be met by all providers of health and adult social care. Regulation 14 of that Act relates specifically to meeting nutritional and hydration needs. During inspections of health and adult social care services, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) asks five key questions of all care services: are they safe, are they effective, are they caring, are they responsive to people’s needs and are they well-led?Under the Effective key question, the CQC seeks to understand how services support people to ensure that they eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet. If a malnourished patient presents at hospital, the CQC would expect a hospital trust to record it as a primary or secondary diagnosis in the Hospital Episode Statistics database and a safeguarding alert to be made, as well as a referral to a dietician.

Dietetics: Recruitment

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to increase the numbers of dietitians in the NHS and social care to support the NHS Long Term Plan priorities of tackling frailty in old age, obesity and type 2 diabetes and improving health outcomes within stroke, cancer and dementia care.

Caroline Dinenage: The National Health Service published its interim People Plan on 3 June. It sets out a plan of action to meet the health requirements of the population outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan. The interim People Plan puts NHS people at the heart of NHS policy. The development of the dietetic workforce was central to the allied health professionals workforce programme for the plan and was developed by engaging widely with staff, patients, employers, professional organisations, regulatory bodies, voluntary sector, academia and other experts. We expect the final People Plan to be published within two months of the Spending Review.

Department of Health and Social Care: East Midlands

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to provide capital investment to projects in the East Midlands.

Stephen Hammond: East Midlands is not a boundary formally defined by the National Health Service. The majority of NHS capital investment is self-funded by individual NHS providers. In addition, providers can also apply for sustainability and transformation partnership (STP) capital funding.£608 million of STP capital has been awarded to 29 schemes across the NHS in the Midlands. The full amount of available STP capital funding (£2.9 billion), covering the six-year period from 2017-18 to 2022-23, has now been committed to those successful schemes announced.In the Spending Review later this year, the Government will consider proposals from the NHS for a multi-year capital plan to support the transformation plans outlined in the Long Term Plan.The decisions of the Spending Review will in part depend on the overall priorities for future capital across a range of policy areas and identifying where the funds will have the greatest impact for patients.

Cannabis: Medical Treatments

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with (a) NHS England, (b) manufacturers and (c) NICE on funding arrangements for accessing (a) licensed and (b) unlicensed cannabis-based medicines on the NHS.

Seema Kennedy: In developing policy on the rescheduling of cannabis-based products for medicinal use, the Government has applied existing arrangements for accessing licensed and unlicensed medicines on the National Health Service. The Department has not had discussions with NHS England, manufacturers or the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on funding arrangements for accessing licensed or unlicensed cannabis-based products, beyond the existing arrangements.The recent changes to the law to reschedule cannabis-based products for medicinal use, does not impact on the availability of existing licensed cannabis-based medicinal products, such as Sativex and Nabilone. Any medicines which receive a marketing authorisation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency or European Medicines Agency will be assessed for cost effectiveness by NICE. This is the foundation of NHS decisions about routine funding, and applies to all licensed medicines.For unlicensed medicines, the normal NHS medicines governance systems apply, as they do to all locally funded unlicensed treatments. These processes support good clinical practice and safe and effective prescribing. Decisions will be taken, at NHS trust level on a case by case basis, based on the needs of the individual patient and the evidence of efficacy and cost effectiveness available.

Gonorrhoea: Antimicrobials

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to address antimicrobial resistance in gonorrhoea.

Seema Kennedy: Public Health England (PHE) undertakes comprehensive surveillance through the gonococcal resistance to antimicrobials surveillance programme (GRASP) to enable early detection and management of antibiotic resistance in gonorrhoea and uses this intelligence to advise on national gonorrhoea treatment guidelines and ensure they remain effective. PHE also investigates outbreaks and individual cases of extensively drug resistant gonorrhoea and potential treatment failures to ensure effective management and control spread. Further information can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gonococcal-resistance-to-antimicrobials-surveillance-programme-grasp-report

Self-harm: Health Services

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies on increasing support for people who are self-harming of the Lancet article, Prevalence of non-suicidal self-harm and service contact in England, 2000–14: repeated cross-sectional surveys of the general population, published on 4 June 2019.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Holding answer received on 10 June 2019



We are aware of the rise in young people self-harming, which is why we included a new key area for action to address self-harming in the cross-government National Suicide Prevention Strategy in 2017.Our close work with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on its Online Harms White Paper will also help to tackle online harms associated with harmful suicide and self-harm content across the internet, including social media.We continue to fund research into self-harming through the multi-centre study for self-harm in England, which will look at self-harming in children and young people in more detail over the next two years.Through the NHS Long Term Plan we have also invested £249 million to ensure every emergency department has a mental health liaison team in place by 2020/21, which are well placed to treat people who present at hospital for self-harm. The Plan also commits to developing integrated models of primary and community care to support people with complex needs, including self-harming.Investment in the Mental Health Five Year Forward View and NHS Long Term Plan will deliver timely, high-quality mental health support, including by 2023/24. By expanding services and working with schools and colleges an additional 345,000 children and young people aged 0-25 will be able to access comprehensive support.

Patients: Travel

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have accessed the NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme in Canterbury constituency in each of the last three years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Holding answer received on 10 June 2019



The Department does not collect information by parliamentary constituency.

NHS Trusts: Loans

Melanie Onn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total value is of loans paid to NHS trusts; when his Department expects those loans to be repaid; and what the length of the term is of those loans.

Stephen Hammond: The position on the loans that the Department has provided to National Health Service trusts (as at 31 March 2018), together with their length of term, is as follows: Normal Course of Business Loans£3.00 billionTerm varies, range 4 to 28 yearsInterim Capital Loans£0.65 billionTerm varies, range 5 to 25 yearsInterim Revenue Loans£7.35 billionTerm is 3 years The figures for 2018-19 will be released with the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts, in July 2019. In 2018-19 the Department agreed extensions to many of the interim revenue loans that were due during the financial year and will continue to take refinancing decisions on loans due in the coming year, in light of the NHS’s wider financial position.

Public Health: Finance

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of trends in the level of public health spending on the local authority public health services.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of trends in the level of public health funding of on the provision of local authority sexual health services.

Seema Kennedy: Local authorities will receive over £3.1 billion in 2019/20 for use on public health, including for sexual health. It is for local authorities themselves to determine how best to use these resources based on their assessment of local need and with regard to their statutory duties. This funding is in addition to what the National Health Service spends on preventative interventions such as immunisation and screening, including over £1.2 billion on national public health functions in 2018/19.Local authorities report their spending on public health against a series of spend categories, including for sexual and reproductive health. The spend data is published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Public Health England monitors and publishes data on trends for the wide range of indicators of public health set out in the Public Health Outcomes Framework. Most are stable or improving. That framework can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/public-health-outcomes-framework

Genito-urinary Medicine

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to ensure the maintenance of the provision of local authority sexual health services.

Seema Kennedy: Local authorities have been mandated to commission comprehensive open access sexual health services and are best placed to understand and meet the public health needs of their local communities. Data published by Public Health England show that more people are accessing sexual health services, with attendances increasing by 7% between 2017 and 2018. This continues the trend of increases in attendances seen over the past five years. To help manage the overall increase in demand, local authorities are increasingly commissioning online services to manage lower risk and asymptomatic patients. These services also have the potential to reach groups not currently engaged with clinic services. The data can be viewed at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sexually-transmitted-infections-stis-annual-data-tables

Mental Capacity

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the Code of Practice for Liberty Protection Safeguards.

Caroline Dinenage: The Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act received Royal Assent on 16 May 2019. The Department has committed to placing a letter in the Library setting out details of the timescales for the Liberty Protection Safeguards Code of Practice, which it will do shortly.

Diabetes: Mental Health Services

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure each hospital diabetes team includes a mental health professional.

Seema Kennedy: It is for individual clinical commissioning groups to commission treatment and services for people with diabetes and they are best placed to identify what is needed in their local areas.On 21 March 2018 NHS England and NHS Improvement along with the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health published ‘The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Pathway for People with Long-term Physical Health Conditions and Medically Unexplained Symptoms’ which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/improving-access-to-psychological-therapies-long-term-conditions-pathway.pdfIAPT services provide evidence based treatments for people with anxiety and depression and the services are co-located in existing primary and secondary care physical health pathways. IAPT services will target the needs of people with depression and anxiety disorders who also have long term conditions such as diabetes.In addition, a project working group has been established involving NHS England, Diabetes UK and other stakeholders which aims to develop a care pathway which, when adopted locally, would help improve access to emotional and psychological support for people with diabetes.

Food: Labelling

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on mandatory calorie labelling for restaurants, cafes and takeaways.

Seema Kennedy: My Rt. hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on improving the health and wellbeing of children and families.

Doctors: Pensions

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has conducted of the effect of the tapered annual pension tax allowance on the retention of doctors in the NHS.

Stephen Hammond: The 2015 NHS Pension Scheme is a generous and valuable part of staff reward packages and remains one of the best schemes available. Its introduction ensures that National Health Service staff receive financial security in retirement, and that the scheme is affordable to the taxpayer.The Government recognises that NHS doctors have raised concerns about pension tax charges being a factor in their decisions to retire early or limit their NHS commitments.We are listening to concerns raised that the tapered annual allowance is affecting the retention of doctors in the NHS. The Government is prepared to take action and will bring forward a public consultation on targeted proposals to make NHS pensions more flexible for senior clinicians by allowing them a 50% reduction in pension contributions for half the pension accrual.The British Medical Association’s view this proposal as a step in the right direction. The Department will listen carefully during consultation to reach a final proposition that works for both staff and taxpayers. The consultation gives an opportunity for groups and individuals to put forward their views.Additionally, the scope of the voluntary ‘Scheme Pays’ facility, implemented by the NHS Pension Scheme to allow scheme members to pay annual allowance charges from the value of their pension benefits rather than upfront, has been extended to cover the payment of tax charges from breaches of the tapered annual allowance. The Government keeps the impact of public sector pay and pensions policies under constant review.

General Practitioners: Internet

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of people are able to book GP appointments through the NHS app.

Seema Kennedy: We are in the process of connecting each of the 7,245 general practitioner (GP) practices with the NHS App and the ability to book GP appointments is a functionality that must be enabled locally in each practice.77% of the GP registered population can now download the app.

General Practitioners: Internet

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of GP appointments have been made through the NHS App since the launch of that App in December 2018.

Seema Kennedy: This data is not collected centrally.

Cannabis: Medical Treatments

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the cost-effectiveness of patients receiving an NHS prescription for wholeplant medical cannabis.

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the evidence (a) his Department and (b) the Department for International Trade holds on growing a market for prescribed medicinal cannabis.

Seema Kennedy: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 10 June 2019.The correct answer should have been:

 The Department for International Trade and the Department of Health and Social Care are not specifically collecting data on the growth of the market for cannabis based products for medicinal use in the United Kingdom.However, data from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) shows growing numbers of import notifications for medicinal cannabis and the Home Office has received increased numbers of licence applications.In addition, UK companies exporting these products and foreign companies looking to invest in the UK have full access to government support, where they have the necessary authorisations from the MHRA and Home Office and a relevant Export Licence.An initial impact assessment was published alongside The Misuse of Drugs (Amendments) (Cannabis and Licence Fees) (England, Wales and Scotland) Regulations 2018. This can be viewed at the following link:http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/1055/impactsThis set out the approach that the Government proposed to take in assessing the costs and benefits of the change in the law at a population level, with regard to the rescheduling of cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPM). This framework included potential savings in treatment costs, giving the example of patients with severe epilepsy for whom medicinal use of cannabis could reduce the frequency of seizures and reduce the number of related hospital admissions. This was an initial framework for assessing this policy and as we develop our knowledge in this area, both on the costs and the potential benefits, we can revisit and refine these assessments.In the meantime, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is developing clinical guidelines on the appropriate use of CBPM based on the best available evidence, and the National Institute for Health Research is funding further clinical research on this. More information is available at the following link:https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding-and-support/documents/themed-calls/cannabis-based%20products/cannabis-based-products-brief.pdf

Seema Kennedy: The Department for International Trade and the Department of Health and Social Care are not specifically collecting data on the growth of the market for cannabis based products for medicinal use in the United Kingdom.However, data from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) shows growing numbers of import notifications for medicinal cannabis and the Home Office has received increased numbers of licence applications.In addition, UK companies exporting these products and foreign companies looking to invest in the UK have full access to government support, where they have the necessary authorisations from the MHRA and Home Office and a relevant Export Licence.An initial impact assessment was published alongside The Misuse of Drugs (Amendments) (Cannabis and Licence Fees) (England, Wales and Scotland) Regulations 2018. This can be viewed at the following link:http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/1055/impactsThis set out the approach that the Government proposed to take in assessing the costs and benefits of the change in the law at a population level, with regard to the rescheduling of cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPM). This framework included potential savings in treatment costs, giving the example of patients with severe epilepsy for whom medicinal use of cannabis could reduce the frequency of seizures and reduce the number of related hospital admissions. This was an initial framework for assessing this policy and as we develop our knowledge in this area, both on the costs and the potential benefits, we can revisit and refine these assessments.In the meantime, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is developing clinical guidelines on the appropriate use of CBPM based on the best available evidence, and the National Institute for Health Research is funding further clinical research on this. More information is available at the following link:https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding-and-support/documents/themed-calls/cannabis-based%20products/cannabis-based-products-brief.pdf

Wales Office

Children: Day Care

Mr Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he has taken steps to enable English local authorities to claim back funding for childcare places for children living in England who access free childcare in Wales; and if he will make a statement .

Alun Cairns: Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure free early education in their area for children who are eligible. Education and the entitlement to free childcare for pre-school children in Wales is devolved to the National Assembly for Wales, and I will be raising this issue with the Welsh Government Minister for Health and Social Services.

Children: Day Care

Mr Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made of the number of children living in (a) Wales accessing free childcare entitlement in England and (b) England accessing free childcare entitlement in Wales.

Alun Cairns: As of January 2018, there were an estimated 495 children resident in Wales accessing free childcare entitlements of up to 15 hours a week in England. The provision of free childcare entitlements in Wales is devolved to the National Assembly for Wales, and as such the UK Government does not hold this information.

Department for Education

Apprentices: Taxation

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many businesses in (a) Ashfield constituency and (b) Nottinghamshire hired apprentices in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: The most recent statistics on the total number of businesses with apprenticeship starts for the 2016/17 academic year are published on GOV.UK. This can be found at:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/750709/apprenticeship_starts_tables.xlsx.Due to the methodology behind these experimental statistics, we do not provide regional data at a lower level of granularity than Government Office Region. We are developing the methodology which will potentially allow for more detailed breakdowns in the future.The latest published information on apprenticeship starts can be found in the further education data library. This can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-apprenticeships.The latest published figures on the number of apprenticeship starts at a geographical level can be found at:2017/18 and the first six months of the 2018/19 academic year (provisional):https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/789168/Apprenticeship-starts-ach-geography-tool_201718_Q2-201819_Mar2019.xlsx.2014/15 to 2017/18 academic years:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/772388/Apprenticeship-starts-ach-geography-tool_201415-Q1201819_Jan2019_v1.xlsx.

Mathematics: Education

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2019 to Question 251405, how many children classified as in scope for the 16-18 maths progress measure were from (a) disadvantaged and (b) non-disadvantaged backgrounds; and whether those children (i) did not enter an approved qualification and (ii) made positive progress in 2017-18.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2019 to Question 251405, how many children classified as in scope for the 16-18 maths progress measure were from (a) disadvantaged and (b) non-disadvantaged backgrounds by prior attainment points from 0 to 3; and whether those children (i) did not enter an approved qualification and (ii) made positive progress in 2017-18.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answers of 14 May 2019 to Question 251405 and Question 251401, if he will publish that data by (a) GCSE or international GCSE qualification at (i) grade 2/E, (ii) grade F, (iii) grade 1/G  and (iv) grade fail and (b) any other qualification at (v) level 1 qualification, (vi) entry level and (vii) fail in 2017-18.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2019 to Question 251405 and Question 251401 on Mathematics: Education, for that data for the year 2016-2017.

Nick Gibb: The number of state-funded students in scope for the 16-18 Maths measures and their attainment, split by disadvantage status[1] and prior attainment[2], can be found in tables 1-4, attached. These figures are for 2017/18. This expands on published data within the Department’s statistical release, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/a-level-and-other-16-to-18-results-2017-to-2018-revised.The number of state-funded students in scope for the 16-18 maths and English progress measures and their attainment, split by disadvantage status, prior attainment, and the type of qualification the student sat in their KS4 study[3], [4] are available in tables 5-8, attached. These figures are for 2017/18.Disaggregating the published figures has necessitated a slightly different methodology to calculate the number of students with positive progress. In some cases this leads to a negligible difference when totals are compared to the published data within the Department’s statistical release[5].For figures in 2016/17, tables 1-8 have been replicated in tables 9-16, attached. [1] Disadvantage status is taken from the census recorded completed for that student’s final year of key stage 4 study.[2] In previous PQs 251400–251406, prior attainment was given based on three groups (‘entry level or fail’, ‘below grade 3/D’ and ‘grade 3/D’). In the attached tables with information relating to prior attainment points, these points are based on the student’s highest prior attainment in mathematics or English. ‘Entry level or fail’ is synonymous with points 0 and 0.4. ‘Below grade 3 or D’ is synonymous with points 0.8–3.0. ‘Grade 3 or D’ is synonymous with points 4.0. This is the case for all the tables provided.[3] ‘GCSE or equivalent’ includes students whose highest prior attainment were in a GCSE, International GCSE or level 2 certificate. Qualifications are included in this group because they are all similarly graded on a 9-1 or A*-G scale and are included as part of the condition for funding calculations. ‘Other level 2 qualifications’ includes students whose highest prior attainment was in any other level 2 qualification. This includes level 2 functional skills and free standing maths that are included as part of the condition of funding calculations. This is the case for tables 5-8 and 13-16.[4] The methodology used means that for a small number of students any entries into maths during their 16-18 study which did not reach the grade 4/C threshold (leaving them in scope), may have led to their prior attainment being reclassified. This will have had no noticeable effect on the overall figures. Due to the methodology used to assign points to English literature and language, a small number of students may be assigned to a different qualification type. This is the case for tables 5-8 and 13-16. 



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Sex and Relationship Education: LGBT People

Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will issue guidance on LGBT issues to schools to guarantee that all children, regardless of their religious or non-religious background, receive age-appropriate LGBT-inclusive Relationships and Sex Education when the new subject is introduced in 2020.

Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how children who are or who may later identify as LGBT and their peers will learn about LGBT issues in a fully inclusive and tolerant manner if state-funded religious schools are permitted to omit such content from RSE.

Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he will take to monitor whether schools are teaching fully LGBT-inclusive Relationships and Sex Education when the subject becomes compulsory in 2020.

Nick Gibb: From 2020, relationships education will become compulsory for all primary aged pupils and relationships and sex education (RSE) for all secondary aged pupils in England. Alongside this, we are introducing health education for all pupils in state funded schools. The guidance will be published in due course and information concerning the guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/relationships-and-sex-education-and-health-education.Pupils should receive teaching on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) relationships during their school years. Primary schools are enabled and encouraged to cover LGBT content if they consider it age appropriate to do so. This would be delivered, for example, through teaching about different types of family.RSE in secondary schools should meet the needs of all pupils, regardless of their developing sexuality or identity. The guidance sets out that secondary pupils should be taught the facts and the law about sex, sexuality and gender identity. When teaching the subjects, schools should ensure there is equal opportunity to explore the features of stable and healthy same-sex relationships. This should be integrated appropriately into the RSE programme, rather than addressed separately or in only one lesson.All schools, including faith schools, must have regard to the draft guidance. In all schools, the religious background of all pupils must be considered when planning teaching so that the topics that are included in the core content are handled appropriately. Schools must also ensure they comply with the relevant provisions of the Equality Act 2010. The guidance includes an example of how schools can address LGBT relationships in a faith context; for example, the Catholic Education Service currently publishes a model RSE curricula.Key aspects of relationships education, RSE and health education are in scope for Ofsted inspection; for example, through inspectors’ consideration of pupils’ personal development, behaviour and welfare; and pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Information about how Ofsted inspects schools is set out in its published school inspection handbook. The new Ofsted framework from September 2019 will also introduce a separate grade for ‘personal development’. We have also committed to reviewing the guidance every three years. This will enable us to monitor the implementation of these subjects and make changes in future where required.

Schools: West Midlands

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of good school places in (a) Solihull and (b) the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Department has committed £7 billion between 2015-21 to deliver new school places, on top of investment in the free schools programme. The Department is on track to create 1 million places this decade, the largest increase in school capacity in at least two generations. The West Midlands has been allocated £950.1 million to create new places from 2011-2021 and of this, Solihull has been allocated £28.2 million. Compared to 2010, there are now 1,762 more school places in Solihull and 85,177 more school places in the West Midlands region. As of December 2018, there are 5,559 more pupils in good or outstanding schools in Solihull and 250,227 more pupils in good or outstanding schools in the West Midlands region than in 2010. As of 3 June 2019, there are 44 open free schools and six University Technical Colleges (UTCs) in the West Midlands. The Department has approved a further 24 free schools from groups it is now working with to establish these schools. In Solihull, there is one open free school and one open UTC. In addition to these, the Department will run competitions to find strong providers to open and run two alternative provision schools along with three special schools in the West Midlands, with one of these special schools being located in Solihull.

STEM Subjects

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to increase the take-up of STEM subjects; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Government is committed to increasing the number of pupils taking science, technology, engineering and mechanics (STEM) subjects. There were 47,000 more exam entries to STEM A levels in 2018 compared to 2010, an increase of 23%.The Department funds several programmes to support good teaching. This includes £76 million over 5 years for the network of Maths Hubs and the Teaching for Mastery programme, which aims to reach 11,000 primary and secondary schools by 2023 and has a specific focus to support schools in greatest need, and the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme which aims to increase participation and attainment in level 3 mathematics.In November 2018, the Department launched a new National Centre for Computing Education, supported by £84 million funding until July 2022, to improve the quality of computing teaching and drive up participation in computer science.The national Network of Science Learning Partnerships provides support to primary and secondary schools to improve the quality of science teaching, and the Stimulating Physics Network aims to increase participation in A level physics, particularly among girls.

Vocational Guidance

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to increase the visibility of career options for young people.

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to increase the visibility of career options for care leavers.

Anne Milton: All schools and colleges must provide careers information, advice and guidance for all 12 to 18 year olds. The Careers Strategy published in December 2017 identified the Gatsby Benchmarks as the gold standard for careers in England. The benchmarks help schools to develop a programme of high quality careers advice and all schools are expected to meet the 8 benchmarks by the end of 2020. To support schools in implementing the benchmarks, we are setting up 40 Careers Hubs and providing 1300 training bursaries to train Careers Leaders in schools. Under the Baker Clause, all secondary schools must invite providers of technical education and apprenticeships to talk to pupils and give all pupils a full picture of their options. Schools must also publish a policy statement setting out these opportunities and must make sure that this statement is followed. In addition to the universal services mentioned above, local authorities are required to appoint a Personal Adviser to help care leavers to make the transition from care to independence, which includes helping them to engage in education, employment or training. We have recently introduced a new duty on local authorities that extends the support from a Personal Adviser to all care leavers until the age of 25 from the previous age threshold of 21.

STEM Subjects: Higher Education

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to help ensure diversity in students studying STEM subjects at university.

Chris Skidmore: Widening access and participation in higher education (HE) is a priority for this government. This means that everyone with the capability to succeed in HE should have the opportunity, regardless of their background, ethnicity, gender, or where they grew up. The Office for Students (as the regulator for higher education in England) has a duty to promote equality of opportunity in relation to access and participation in HE and we expect to see further progress, particularly amongst the most selective institutions. Overall numbers of students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are rising. The share of students studying science subjects at English HE providers has increased from 41% in 2010/11 to 45% in 2016/17. Despite rising STEM student numbers, we are far from complacent. The Department for Education is committed to tackling the gender imbalance in STEM subjects, and has invested in programmes to address female participation, particularly in subjects like computing and physics. This includes the Stimulating Physics Network which has a specific strand focusing on increasing the number of girls studying physics A level. A Gender Balance in Computing Pilot Programme will be launched this year to identify practical interventions that schools can implement to improve girls’ participation in computing. They are also funding a new £84 million programme to improve computing teaching and participation, and the Advanced Maths Premium which aims to support schools and colleges in tackling some of the financial barriers to increase participation in post-16 maths. The department is improving careers advice in schools so that young people are aware of the high quality options available for both technical and academic routes into STEM and that they have access to information about the variety of careers that STEM pathways have to offer. STEM activities, including employer talks and work visits, are built into school career programmes and the Careers & Enterprise Company funds opportunities for young people to meet a wide range of STEM employers.

Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education: Disclosure of Information

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of whether the Institute for Apprenticeship and Technical Education's decision not to identify the participants of trailblazer groups is consistent with his Department's policy on openness and transparency.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish the responses to the Institute for Apprenticeship and Technical Education's consultation on the introduction of a five-year pharmacy apprenticeship scheme.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish the names of the organisations which responded to the Institute for Apprenticeship and Technical Education's consultation regarding the introduction of a pharmacy apprenticeship scheme.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he made an assessment of the effect of Skills for Health representation of health organisations on its neutrality before commissioning Skills for Health to facilitate meetings between pharmacist employers on the five-year pharmacy apprenticeship.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has plans to further engage with employer and employee representatives prior to the development of proposed five-year pharmacy apprenticeships.

Anne Milton: This is a matter for the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. I have asked its Chief Executive, Sir Gerry Berragan, to write to the hon. Member for North Durham and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Health Education: Sex

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to prioritise issues of sexual consent within sexual health education.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that sex health education in schools includes the protection of the mental as well as physical wellbeing of young people.

Nick Gibb: From 2020, Relationships Education will become compulsory for all primary aged pupils and Relationships and Sex Education for all secondary aged pupils in England. Alongside this, we are introducing Health Education for all pupils in state funded schools. The core content for these subjects includes, at age-appropriate points, content on permission seeking and consent both in the context of sexual and non-sexual relationships. By introducing these subjects alongside each other, schools will teach children how to have respectful and healthy relationships and how to understand and protect their own mental and physical health. These new subjects complement the reforms set out in the ‘Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision’ green paper and support schools to adopt a whole-school approach to foster pupil wellbeing. As with other aspects of the curriculum, schools will have flexibility over how they deliver the subjects to ensure that content is age-appropriate and sensitive. The updated draft guidance is hosted on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/relationships-and-sex-education-and-health-education.

Literacy: Nottinghamshire

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps his Department has taken to raise levels of literacy in Nottinghamshire.

Nick Gibb: The Government is committed to continuing to raise literacy standards, ensuring all children can read fluently and with understanding.The Department launched a £26.3 million English Hubs Programme in 2018, building on the success of our phonics partnerships and phonics roadshows programmes. Hub schools are taking a leading role in improving the teaching of early reading through systematic synthetic phonics, early language development, and reading for pleasure. The Department has appointed 34 primary schools across England as English Hubs. This includes Horsendale in Nottingham, working with a number of primary schools in Nottinghamshire and the surrounding area to raise levels of literacy.Phonics performance is improving. In 2018, there were 163,000 more 6-year-olds on track to become fluent readers compared to 2012. This represented 82% of pupils meeting the expected standard in the phonics screening check, compared to just 58% when the check was introduced in 2012.In addition, Nottinghamshire schools have received approximately £1.1 million in additional funding to raise levels of literacy and numeracy of Year 7 pupils.

Breakfast Clubs

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of the national school breakfast programme on (a) pupil attendance rates and (b) educational attainment.

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of children that have been recipients of the National School Breakfast programme since its inception.

Nadhim Zahawi: The department is investing up to £26 million in a breakfast club programme, using funds from Soft Drinks Industry Levy revenues. This money will kick-start or improve breakfast clubs in over 1,700 schools. The focus of these clubs has been to target the most disadvantaged areas of the country – including the Department for Education’s Opportunity Areas – to help make sure every child gets the best start in life.A contract was awarded to Family Action in March 2018 and will run until March 2020. Family Action, in partnership with Magic Breakfast, have both been named as the leading charities responsible for running the Breakfast Club programme. Family Action are distributing the appropriate funding to participating schools who meet the eligibility criteria. Family Action has confirmed that they have reached their recruitment target of 1,775 schools.We monitor management information from the programme on an ongoing basis and will also review the effectiveness of the programme fully once the programme concludes including the number of children attending.In March 2019, Family Action indicated that by the start of the summer term over 250,000 children would be benefiting from the programme.

Free School Meals

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what his Department's policy is on unclaimed free school meal credit money.

Nadhim Zahawi: It is important that all pupils have access to healthy and nutritious meals at school and we would encourage all eligible children and parents to claim their free meals. Free school meals (FSM) are intended as a benefit in kind, rather than a cash benefit, and our primary interest is that schools meet their legal duties to provide nutritious free lunches to eligible children. We trust school leaders to make the best decisions in the interests of their pupils and it is right that they have flexibility around how they deliver FSM. We know that some schools will allow pupils to carry over their benefit, however we would not want to instruct schools to follow any specific approach nationally. We will consider how we can share the very best practice around the delivery of FSM.

Bright Tribe Multi-academy Trust and Adventure Learning Academy Trust

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what inquiries his Department is undertaking into financial irregularities at (a) Bright Tribe Trust and (b) Adventure Learning Academies Trust.

Nadhim Zahawi: We require a high level of accountability and transparency of academy trusts. Academy trusts’ status as companies, charities and public sector bodies, means they have a more rigorous tri-partite framework and are held up to greater scrutiny. The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has worked closely with the Trusts and investigations are ongoing.The results of the investigations are sensitive and cannot be shared at this time. Investigations are by nature complex and can take time to achieve the desired outcome. The ESFA is pursuing several avenues to ensure that matters are resolved in the public interest.In addition, the department is working with the sector to continue building capacity and expertise in financial management, supporting effective school resource management with specialist advisers, three-year financial forecasting and developing buying hubs, and recommended deals for all schools.All of this is reflected in the compliance of the sector, with fewer than 2% of academy trusts subject to an active financial notice to improve and 98% of academy trust accounts receiving unqualified opinions in both 2015/16 and 2016/17.

Bright Tribe Multi-academy Trust

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether (a) his Department or (b) the Education and Skills Funding Agency hold copies of the minutes of any board meetings of Bright Tribe Trust Limited.

Nadhim Zahawi: Yes, the Department holds copies of minutes of Bright Tribe Trust Limited board meetings.

Academies: Lighting

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2019 to Question 257589 on Academies: Lighting, if he will place those documents in the Library.

Nick Gibb: The documents are sensitive whilst investigations are ongoing. The Department will consider publishing these reports once investigations are complete.

Schools: Finance

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he has made an assessment of the effect of trends in the level of school finances on the ability of schools to procure environmentally sound services from contractors and suppliers.

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will make an assessment of the education sector to identify steps that can be taken to help that sector become carbon neutral.

Nick Gibb: Schools are autonomous and have the freedom to make their own decisions based on individual need and circumstances. It is important that schools play their part in conserving energy and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The Department will support schools to procure environmentally sound services, encouraging suppliers to work with their supply chains to offer choice and value. For example, each time a new boiler is installed, it replaces one of an old specification that is far less energy efficient.The Department is also committed to delivering new schools that meet energy efficiency targets and supporting the existing estate to reduce its energy demand through advice, support and capital grants. The Department is surveying the condition of every school through the Condition Data Collection to support the development of future priorities for investment, including measures to achieve zero carbon emissions.

Physical Education: GCE A-level

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students (a) in total and (b) eligible for free school meals took physical education at A level in each year since 2010.

Nick Gibb: The total number and percentage of students entering A level physical education in each year is provided in the tables attached, as well as the percentage of entrants into each subject who were eligible for Free School Meals (FSM). The Department has published[1] the number of students entering A level physical education or sport/physical education studies (up to 2015/16), split by FSM, from 2010/11 – 2017/18. Figures for 2009/10 are not available Figures for 2010/11 – 2015/16 are based on exam results achieved in the report year. In addition, for 2015/16 figures only include students who were included in the ‘best 3 A levels’ measure. From 2016/17, figures cover exam results achieved in all years of 16-18 studies (up to three years) and inclusion in the best 3 A level measure was no longer used in the methodology, resulting in more students being included and correspondingly higher rates of entry. Due to the changes in methodology 2015/16 is not comparable with any other year, and 2016/17 and 2017/18 are only comparable with each other. There are also changes in how the cohort of students and FSM eligibility is defined which mean that comparisons between these years are not possible. [1] For 2010/11 – 2015/16 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-level-attainment-by-pupil-characteristics. For 2016/17 and 2017/18 - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-attainment-at-19-years.



261158_Tables
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Special Educational Needs: Teachers

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a bursary scheme to fund the training costs of new Teachers of the Deaf.

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he has taken to ensure that there are adequate numbers of teachers of the deaf to support deaf children, their families, and their education settings.

Nadhim Zahawi: I am determined that all children and young people, including those who are deaf or have a hearing impairment, receive the support they need to achieve the success they deserve. Local authorities are best placed to judge local priorities and to make local funding decisions. It is therefore for local authorities, in consultation with local people and having regard to the range of statutory responsibilities placed on them, to determine the exact nature of provision in their areas, including services for supporting children and young people with hearing impairment. The Whole School Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Consortium is being funded by the department to embed SEND into school improvement in order to equip the workforce to deliver high quality teaching across all types of SEND, including children and young people with hearing impairment. I have met with the National Deaf Children’s Society and asked my officials to consider their proposal for a central bursary scheme for teachers of the deaf. They will report to me once they have collected all the relevant information.

Ministry of Justice

Isis Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on staff there have been at HMP Isis in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Isis Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on prisoners there have been at HMP Isis in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Isis Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many serious assaults on staff there have been at HMP Isis in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Isis Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many serious assaults on prisoners there have been at HMP Isis in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Isis Prison: Self-harm

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents of self-harm there have been at HMP Isis in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Isis Prison: Drugs

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of random tests returned positive results for psychoactive substances at HMP Isis in each of the past 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Isis Prison: Drugs

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents there have been where drugs were found at HMP Isis in each of the past 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Community Rehabilitation Companies

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much the (a) one-off cost and (b) annual cost thereafter would be to re-nationalise the case supervision component of services delivered by Community Rehabilitation Companies.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what financial provisions (a) his Department and (b) Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service have made to transition case management work in England from Community Rehabilitation Companies to the National Probation Service for 2019 and 2020.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has produced an initial indicative assessment of the cost of bringing the case supervision component of services delivered by Community Rehabilitation Companies under the supervision of the National Probation Service. These costs include one off exit costs for current Community Rehabilitation Company contracts which are subject to change as the commercial framework and negotiations are not yet finalised with providers. Releasing these figures may compromise that negotiation so we cannot do so at this time.

Wealstun Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on staff there have been at HMP Wealston in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Wealstun Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults there have been on prisoners at HMP Wealston in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Wealstun Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many serious assaults on staff there have been at HMP Wealston in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Wealstun Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many serious assaults on prisoners there have been at HMP Wealston in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Wealstun Prison: Self-harm

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents of self-harm there have been at HMP Wealston in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Wealstun Prison: Drugs

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of random tests have resulted in a positive result for psychoactive substances at HMP Wealston in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Wealstun Prison: Drugs

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents there have been where drugs were found at HMP Wealston in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Moorland Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults there have been on prisoners at HMP Moorland in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Moorland Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many serious assaults on staff there have been at HMP Moorland in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Moorland Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many serious assaults on prisoners there have been at HMP Moorland in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Moorland Prison: Self-harm

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents of self-harm there have been at HMP Moorland in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Moorland Prison: Drugs

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of random tests returned a positive result for psychoactive substances at HMP Moorland in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Moorland Prison: Drugs

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents there have been where drugs were found at HMP Moorland in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

National Probation Service for England and Wales: Sick Leave

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average sickness rate is for employees of the National Probation Service.

Robert Buckland: Latest figures on the number working days lost due to sickness and sickness absence rates in the National Probation Service can be found in table 17 in the HMPPS Workforce Statistics Bulletin at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/801838/hr-publication-tables-march-2019.xlsxHMPPS is committed to ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of its staff in England and Wales, with all staff having access to a comprehensive occupational health service and employee assistance programme.

National Probation Service for England and Wales: Costs

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the cost of the National Probation Service has been in each year since 2015.

Robert Buckland: The total amount spent by the Ministry of Justice on the National Probation Service for the years requested is set out in a summary table below. Financial YearsProbation Expenditure, nominal2018/19£507,600,0002017/18£441,900,0002016/17£456,100,0002015/16£440,000,0002014/15£364,200,000  Please note:Figures have been rounded and show actual costs  The 2018/19 data is finalised but subject to auditResponsibility for providing probation services transferred to the new National Probation Service part way through the financial year 2014/15

Nottingham Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on staff there have been at HMP Nottingham in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Nottingham Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on prisoners there have been at HMP Nottingham in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Nottingham Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many serious assaults on staff there have been at HMP Nottingham in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Nottingham Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many serious assaults on prisoners there have been at HMP Nottingham in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Nottingham Prison: Self-harm

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents of self-harm there have been at HMP Nottingham in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Nottingham Prison: Drugs

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of random tests returned a positive result for psychoactive substances at HMP Nottingham in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Nottingham Prison: Drugs

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents there have been where drugs were found at HMP Nottingham in each the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hull Prison: Drugs

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of random tests returned a positive result for psychoactive substances at HMP Hull in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hull Prison: Drugs

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents there were where drugs were found at HMP Hull in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Prisons: Security

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisons have a working and operational backscatter x-ray body scanner.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Humber Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on staff there have been at HMP Humber in each the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Lindholme Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on staff there have been at HMP Lindholme in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Lindholme Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on prisoners there have been at HMP Lindholme in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Lindholme Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many serious assaults on prisoners there have been at HMP Lindholme in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Lindholme Prison: Self-harm

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents of self-harm there have been at HMP Lindholme in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Lindholme Prison: Drugs

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion random tests have returned positive results for psychoactive substances at HMP Lindholme in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Lindholme Prison: Drugs

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents there have been where drugs were found at HMP Lindholme in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Humber Prison: Drugs

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of random tests returned positive results for psychoactive substances at HMP Humber in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Humber Prison: Drugs

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents there have been where drugs were found at HMP Humber in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Leeds Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on staff there have been at HMP Leeds in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Leeds Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on prisoners there have been at HMP Leeds in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Leeds Prison: Crimes of Violence

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many serious assaults on staff there have been at HMP Leeds in each of the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Crimes of Violence: Sentencing

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of people convicted of violent offences who previously had (a) none, (b) 1-4, (c) 5-9, (d) 10-15, (e) 16-25, (f) 26-50, (g) 51-75, (h) 76-100 and (i) 101 or more convictions received (A) an immediate custodial sentence, (B) a suspended sentence and (C) a community sentence in each of the last 12 years.

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people convicted of violent offences who previously had (a) none, (b) 1-4, (c) 5-9, (d) 10-15, (e) 16-25, (f) 26-50, (g) 51-75, (h) 76-100 and (i) 101 or more convictions received (A) an immediate custodial sentence, (B) a suspended sentence and (C) a community sentence in each of the last 12 years.

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people convicted of offences who previously had (a) zero, (b) one to four, (c) five to nine, (d) 10 to 15, (e) 16 to 25, (f) 26 to 50, (g) 51 to 75, (h) 76 to 100 and (i) 101 or more convictions received (A) an immediate custodial sentence, (B) a suspended sentence and (C) a community sentence in each of the last 12 years.

Robert Buckland: The information requested is provided in the tables attached with this answer. These tables include data, covering the period 2007 – 2018, on:The percentage of occasions on which an offender was convicted of a violence against the person offence with a specified number of previous convictions and received a specified sentence.The number of occasions on which an offender was convicted of a violence against the person offence with a specified number of previous convictions and received a specified sentence.The number of occasions on which an offender was convicted of any offence with a specified number of previous convictions and received a specified sentence



Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 26.09 KB)

Prisons: Contracts

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2019 to Question 251409 on Prisons: Contracts, what assessment he has made of how minimum staffing levels potentially effect the ability of private prison operators to innovate provision; and if he will make a statement.

Robert Buckland: No specific assessment has been made of how minimum staffing levels potentially affect the ability of private prison operators to innovate provision, however, the issue of staffing will be subject to thorough scrutiny.Our contracts with current private prison operators set out the services they are required to deliver and the standards they are expected to reach. There is no requirement in the contracts to agree staffing levels with the Ministry of Justice. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to determine and maintain the number of staff necessary to discharge the requirements of the contract.To manage the performance indicators set out in the contracts, each privately managed prison has a full-time on-site Controller, Deputy Controller and Assistant Controller, all employed by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The Controller has regular review meetings with the contractor against a range of performance indicators that will reflect numbers of staff in post, recruitment, training, sickness, and attrition. Where action is needed, progress is monitored by the Controller and escalated within HMPPS where appropriate action can be taken in accordance with the contract. This may include a requirement for urgent improvement and/or financial deductions.Mandating minimum staffing levels for private prison operators would restrict their ability to introduce and foster innovation, and their flexibility to adjust their staffing levels across the lifetime of the contract according to the needs and demands created by any changes to the prison population or in risk. It could also deter them from engaging with expertise and professional support in the local and wider community and hinder their ability to respond quickly to new challenges and opportunities.Private prisons have been recognised for their innovation, for example: HMP Altcourse has been praised by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) for its innovative approach to violence reduction.HMP Parc founded a ground-breaking families intervention programme that has been replicated in the Netherlands and continues to receive international praise.Prisoners at HMP Lowdham Grange introduced a photobooth in March last year, as part of efforts to help families and children have a more positive experience of visiting their fathers. HMIP described this as a “good innovation”. As part of the Prison Operator Competition we will expect bidders to adequately resource their respective establishments to deliver a safe, decent and secure regime. We will robustly evaluate bidder responses for both quality and cost, in consultation with subject matter experts across the organisation using a public sector compactor, which includes proposed staffing levels. This will provide assurance that bidders have the resources required to ensure a safe, decent, secure and rehabilitative regime that delivers quality, value for money and affordability.

Prison Officers: Wales

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prison officers recruited in 2018 in Wales are still working for the prison service.

Robert Buckland: The total number of Band 3-5 Prison Officers recruited in Wales in 2018 was 219. 191 (87%) of those staff are still working for the Prison Service based on the latest available data.

Ministry of Justice: Living Wage

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of organisations that hold contracts with his Department pay the National Living Wage.

Edward Argar: The information requested could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission

Brexit Party: Finance

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what updates it has received from the Electoral Commission following the commission's visit to the offices of the Brexit Party on 21 May 2019.

Bridget Phillipson: The Electoral Commission attended The Brexit Party’s office to take a closer look the systems the party has in place to receive funds.Its review is still ongoing. This work will inform the Commission’s regulatory work following the European Parliamentary elections and any recommendations it makes to the party. The Commission will also make any recommendations on the wider issue of the workings of the political finance rules in its statutory report on the administration of the poll.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Right to Buy Scheme: Midlands

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Voluntary Right to Buy pilot scheme for housing associations in the Midlands, and whether he has plans to extend that pilot.

Kit Malthouse: The Voluntary Right to Buy pilot is giving thousands of housing association tenants in the Midlands the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of home ownership. The pilot will be fully evaluated after completion, and future policy decisions will be taken on the basis of that evaluation.

Private Rented Housing

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to (a) increase protections for tenants from hazards recorded in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System list and (b) ensure that landlords who are non-compliant with that list are prosecuted.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: Ensuring tenants in the private rented sector are protected from poor housing conditions is vital, so we have commissioned a review of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) to assess how well it works in practice and make sure that it is fit for purpose. The first phase of the review is now complete, setting out recommendations which will inform the appropriate direction of the second phase - from a full root-and-branch revision of the HHSRS down to a simple refresh of the standard and its accompanying guidance.In addition, we have brought in strong enforcement powers for local authorities to tackle those non-compliant landlord. These include the introduction of civil penalties of up to £30,000 as an alternative to prosecution; banning orders for rogue landlords and agents, in tandem with a database of rogue landlords and property agents to prevent serious offenders from letting properties; and extending rent repayment orders which require a landlord to repay a specified amount of rent to a local authority or a tenant, to cover, for example, illegal eviction or failure to comply with a statutory notice. This year we have awarded over £2.3 million in grant funding to local authorities to boost their enforcement work, fostering innovative approaches and sharing best practice to tackle the minority of landlords who deliberately flout the law.

Buildings: Fire Prevention

Karen Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to implement a national review of fire compartmentation in residential buildings.

Kit Malthouse: There are no plans to implement a national review of compartmentalisation in residential buildings However, I would refer the honourable Member to the Secretary of State's written statement on 6 June announcing a consultation on our proposals for a new system of building and fire safety which puts residents’ safety at its heart.​ The documents are published at:www.gov.uk/government/consultations/building-a-safer-future-proposals-for-reform-of-the-building-safety-regulatory-system

Sleeping Rough

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress the pilots of Housing First approaches to reducing rough sleeping have made; and how many people have been helped by those pilots.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: In May 2018 we allocated £28 million to pilot Housing First at scale in Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region and West Midlands Combined Authorities. Since then our expert Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) advisers have been working closely with each of the three pilot regions to monitor and support progress. The pilots are still at an early stage; however, people have been housed in both the West Midlands and, more recently, in the Greater Manchester pilot. We expect Liverpool to follow suit shortly and we are looking forward to seeing increasing numbers of very complex and vulnerable people moving into safe and secure homes as the pilot progresses.The pilots will support around 1000 rough sleepers and those at risk of rough sleeping with the most complex needs to help them to end their homelessness. Individuals will be provided with stable, affordable accommodation and intensive wrap-around support. This will help them to recover from complex issues, such as substance abuse and mental health difficulties, and sustain their tenancies.An extensive and robust evaluation of Housing First headed up by our independent contractors, ICF is underway and will ensure that all learning from these pilots will be used to inform decisions on roll-out.The Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one should ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy. This sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all. The Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period.In its first year, our Rough Sleeping Initiative provided over 1,750 new bed spaces and 500 staff. This year we have expanded the RSI with investment of £46 million for 246 areas – providing funding for an estimated 2,600 bed spaces and 750 staff.

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2019 to Question 254199 on Buildings: Insulation, whether his Department has invited representatives of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee to witness the BS 8414 test of a High Pressure Laminate cladding system that is due to be carried out by the Fire Protection Association.

Kit Malthouse: No, members of the Select Committee have not been invited to witness this tests. A detailed report of the test will, as before, be published in due course.

Buildings: Insulation

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the fire risks associated with high-pressure laminate (HPL) cladding; and whether he plans to ensure the removal of HPL from all apartment blocks in the UK.

Kit Malthouse: Unsafe Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding poses a particularly high risk on High Rise Residential Buildings. This is why the Government has set aside £600 million (£200 million for private buildings and up to £400 million for social buildings) for remediation of ACM cladding systems.Non-ACM cladding systems or other structural works which are not directly related to the remediation of ACM cladding systems will not be part of the fund.The Government has consistently made clear that building safety is the responsibility of the building owner and this includes acting if they have other cladding which they cannot confirm is safe – detailed advice is contained in Government Advice Note 14 published in December 2017 and revised in December 2018.   https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/765761/Expert_Panel_advice_note_on_non-ACM.pdfMy Department has also established a research project to test and improve the evidence available on the behaviour of a range of non-ACM materials used in cladding systems when subjected to fire. I refer the Hon Member to the written statement made by the Secretary of State on 1 May 2019 (HCWS1533 Building Safety Update).

Redrow Homes: Complaints

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many complaints his Department has received on Redrow Housing developments in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many complaints his Department received on management companies employed by Redrow Housing developments in each of the last five years.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The Government is committed to promoting fairness and transparency for leaseholders and residential freeholders and ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service. The Department does not collect data on complaints it receives relating to specific developers or management companies.In the Government’s response to its consultation Strengthening redress in housing we committed to creating a new Housing Complaints Resolution Service to act as a single point of access to redress for housing consumers. In October 2018 we announced a New Homes Ombudsman for buyers of new build homes, and our intention to bring forward legislation to close the gaps in redress services for consumers including to require all private landlords to sign up to a redress scheme.

Veterans: Housing

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much his Department has spent in each of the last five years on accommodation for homeless veterans; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: Our veterans play a vital role in keeping our country safe and many have dedicated their lives to the services. For those who fall on hard times it is only right that we give them all the support they need to put a roof over their head.We recognise that there are limited statistics on homelessness; that is the why the MOD and MHCLG are working together to gather more comprehensive data on this issue. The Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) statistics suggest that 3 per cent of the rough sleeping population in London have served in the Armed Forces and other independent research shows that the rough sleeping figures for veterans are around 3-4 per cent across the UK. The same research shows that an individual is less likely to be homeless if they have served in the Armed Forces.There are, however, a number of existing support services available to veterans who are, or at risk of homelessness. This includes, the Veterans Gateway, an online web and telephone resource for veterans, within which is a housing specialist who has up-to-date information of any vacancies with the 4,000+ homes in the country specifically ringfenced for Veterans.This is in addition to the £1.2 billion my Department has now committed to tackling all forms of homelessness and rough sleeping. This includes £1 million of specific funding targeted at ensuring veterans receive the right support and guidance required to ensure more veterans are prevented from becoming homeless.In April 2018, we also introduced the Homelessness Reduction Act, its Duty to Refer requires public bodies to refer members of the armed forces, who maybe homeless or threatened with homelessness in England, to a local housing authority within 56 days, having gained the individual’s consent. A person who is vulnerable as a result of having been a member of Her Majesty’s regular armed forces (a veteran) has priority need for accommodation and will be housed by a local authority if they become homeless.

Council Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has pans to encourage local authorities to reduce rates of council tax.

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has plans to reduce the two per cent referendum threshold on council tax increases to zero.

Rishi Sunak: Council tax levels are determined by local authorities, although the Government maintains a referendum threshold to ensure local residents can have the final say on excessive increases. Referendum principles are set each year alongside the Local Government Finance Settlement, and proposals for 2020-21 will be published later in the year.

Affordable Housing

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many affordable houses have been built in (a) the UK, (b) Greater London and (c) Ealing in the last 12 months.

Kit Malthouse: The Government is committed to increasing the supply of social housing and has made £9 billion available through the Affordable Homes Programme to March 2022 to deliver 250,000 new affordable homes of a wide range of tenures, including social rent.In 2017-18 47,355 affordable homes were completed, an increase of 12 per cent on the previous year, of these over 7,100 (15 per cent) were in London.Details for homes delivered in 2018 -19 will be published in the Departments annual Affordable Housing Supply statistics.Breakdowns of delivery by borough are available in live table 1011 can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply.

Rented Housing: Young People

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made a recent estimate of the number of young people who live in their (a) home and (b) university towns due to unaffordable rent in large cities and regional centres.

Kit Malthouse: The Department does not collect or publish information on the number of young people who live in their [family] home, or in university towns due to unaffordable rent in large cities and regional centres.

High Rise Flats: Insulation

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answers of 8 May 2019 and 15 May 2019 to Questions 250034 and 252869, if he will publish an updated regional breakdown of (a) blocks with aluminium composite material cladding systems unlikely to meet building regulations which are yet to be remediated and (b) dwellings in those blocks as of May 2019 based on the building safety programme figures due to be published on 10 June 2019.

Kit Malthouse: Table 1 shows the regional breakdown of private and social sector high-rise residential buildings with ACM cladding systems unlikely to meet Building Regulations which are yet to be remediated, as at 31 May 2019. This excludes hotels, student accommodation and public buildings. Table 1: Regional breakdown of private and social sector high-rise residential buildings with ACM cladding systems unlikely to meet Building Regulations which are yet to be remediated - 31 May, 2019.RegionNumber of high-rise residential buildings yet to be remediatedEast Midlands1-5East of England6-10LondonOver 20North East1-5North WestOver 20South East11-20South West6-10Yorkshire and The Humber11-20Total265 Table 2 shows total numbers of dwellings in high-rise residential buildings with ACM cladding systems unlikely to meet Building Regulations by region, as at 31 May 2019. This excludes hotels, student accommodation and public buildings. Table 2: Numbers of dwellings in private and social sector high-rise residential buildings with ACM cladding systems unlikely to meet Building Regulations which are yet to be remediated, by region - 31 May, 2019.RegionNumber of estimated dwellings in yet to be remediated buildingsEast Midlands200East of England500London12,600-15,800North East200North West4,100-4,300South East1,400South West600Yorkshire and The Humber1,500-1,900Total (does not sum due to rounding)21,000-24,900

High Rise Flats: Insulation

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2019 to Question 259402 on high rise flats: insulation, what estimate he made of the number of blocks that would potentially draw on the fund when calculating the £200 million private sector cladding remediation fund.

Kit Malthouse: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Building Regulations and Fire Safety Independent Review

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Building a Safer Future: an implementation plan, if he will publish the (a) membership of the Joint Regulators Group and (b) minutes of that Group's meetings to date.

Kit Malthouse: As outlined in the Building a Safer Future: an implementation plan, the Joint Regulators Group draws together the expertise of the Health and Safety Executive, Local Authority Building Control, National Fire Chiefs’ Council, and the Local Government Association, and also includes representatives from the Home Office and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and an independent regulatory expert.The Terms of Reference will be published in due course. The Group is not a decision-making body. Its work has informed the consultation document on proposals for reform of the building safety regulatory system published on 6 June and will continue to inform the work of the Building Safety Programme, and minutes of its meetings will not be published. The consultation document can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/building-a-safer-future-proposals-for-reform-of-the-building-safety-regulatory-system.

Buildings: Insulation

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2019 to Question 217592 on Buildings: Insulation, if he will publish the advice sent to building owners on how to (a) investigate and (b) remediate non-ACM cladding systems on their buildings.

Kit Malthouse: We have published guidance to reiterate the importance of building owners assessing their buildings and ensuring that non-ACM cladding systems are safe. Advice Note 14, published in 2017 and updated in December 2018, reiterates that the clearest way to ensure safety is to remove unsafe materials.   https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/765761/Expert_Panel_advice_note_on_non-ACM.pdf

Leasehold: Fees and Charges

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the timeframe is for the publication of legislative proposal to reform the charges levied on the owners of leasehold properties; and whether that legislation include reform of the charges levied on freeholders.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The Government is committed to promoting fairness and transparency for leaseholders and residential freeholders and ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service.The Government believes that service charges should be transparent, communicated effectively and that there should be a clear route to challenge or redress if things go wrong. That is why we have established a working group chaired by Lord Best to raise standards across the property sector and consider how fees such as service charges should be presented to consumers and to explore the best means to challenge fees which are unjustified. The group is instructed to report back to Government in July 2019.The Government will legislate to ensure that freeholders who pay charges for the maintenance of communal areas and facilities on a private or mixed use estate, can access equivalent rights as leaseholders to challenge the reasonableness of service charges.The Government intends to bring forward the legislation to make these changes as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Ministry of Defence

Intelligence Services: Detainees

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times a Minister in her Department has authorised intelligence sharing under section 15 (ix) of the policy on the passing or receipt of intelligence relating to detained or captured persons in each of the last three years.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times intelligence sharing has been pre-approved by Ministers in her Department under section 22 of the MoD policy on the passing or receipt of intelligence relating to detained or captured persons.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times intelligence sharing has taken place after  Ministerial pre-approval under section 22 of the MoD policy on the passing or receipt of intelligence relating to detained or captured persons in each of the last three years.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people have had intelligence relating to them shared after Ministerial pre-approval under section 22 of the MoD policy on the passing or receipt of intelligence relating to detained or captured persons in each of the last three years.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times she has pre-approved intelligence sharing under section 22 of the MoD policy on the passing or receipt of intelligence relating to detained or captured persons since her appointment as Secretary of State.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times her predecessor pre-approved intelligence sharing under section 22 of the MoD policy on the passing or receipt of intelligence relating to detained or captured persons.

Mark Lancaster: We do not comment on the details of our intelligence sharing arrangements relating to detainees or captured persons as to do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces. However, I would like to reassure the hon. Member that this Government stands firmly against torture and does not participate in, solicit, encourage or condone the use of torture or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment for any purpose. Our policy and activities in this area are entirely in accordance with both domestic and international law.

Air Force: Training

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the open skeleton argument of the Secretary of State for hearing 7,8,10 February 2017, claim number CO/1306/2016, (a) how many and (b) on what dates the Government has provided (i) International Targeting Courses and (ii) senior airmen's workshops on SPINS since March 2015.

Mark Lancaster: Since March 2015, seven International Targeting Courses have been provided by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for Saudi Arabia, which took place on the following dates:27 July - 14 August 20157 - 23 October 201511 - 29 January 201618 July - 5 August 201624 March - 7 April 201722 - 26 October 201713 - 24 January 2019Since March 2015, one Senior Airmen's Workshop on Special Instructions (SPINS) has been provided by the MOD for Saudi Arabia, which took place in January 2017.

Children: Maintenance

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many deduction of earning requests made by the Child Maintenance Service have been declined by the (a) MoD Defence Council and (b) Authorised Officer; and if she will publish the reasons for those requests being declined.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Defence Business Services, within the Ministry of Defence (MOD), is responsible for administering requests and orders from the Child Maintenance Service. In financial year 2018-19 818 deduction of earning requests were received from the Child Maintenance Service for Service personnel; of these, 129 were rejected. The reasons for the rejection were: No. of RejectionsReason for Rejection~Service person not in receipt of pay~Insufficient information on request to validate a Service person’s identity30Service person had been discharged15Service person was a reservist75A deduction of earning order was issued, rather than a deduction of earning request~Request addressed to a Service person directly and not to Defence Business Services In line with Departmental policy ~ represents five or fewer. For MOD civilian staff, the number of deduction orders declined is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost, however, a deduction of earning order would only be rejected if an individual was no longer employed by the MOD or if they were in receipt of insufficient earnings to meet the request.

Greece: Military Alliances

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps her Department is taking to increase defence and security cooperation with Greece.

Mark Lancaster: The UK has a close defence and security relationship with Greece, based on a programme of bilateral co-operation and interoperability through NATO, that includes the use of Souda Bay base on Crete. Opportunities for further bilateral co-operation are reviewed through regular consultations at both the political and military level, including the development of a joint vision statement.

Navy: Baltic Sea

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether she plans for a continued UK presence in the Baltic following the conclusion of the current six-month patrol by HMS Westminster.

Mark Lancaster: The UK has a longstanding and enduring commitment to the Baltic Sea Region with a significant presence most notably within Estonia. The UK plays a leading role in NATO's Deterrence and Defence strategy by providing the Framework Headquarters and Battlegroup of around 850 personnel in Estonia. This capable force is augmented by an annual rotation of Apache Attack helicopters and Wildcat Lynx multirole helicopters. The UK contributes to the NATO air policing mission and our long-term commitment will see forces deployed in Estonia in 2019 and 2022, Lithuania in 2020 and Romania in 2021. The UK led Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) deployment to the Baltic Sea Region over 20 May - 12 July demonstrates the UK's focus upon the Baltic Sea, North Atlantic and High North regions as we integrate partnering nations' capabilities

Sweden: Military Alliances

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps she is taking to strengthen defence and security cooperation between the UK and Sweden.

Mark Lancaster: The UK's defence and security relationship with Sweden is driven by the 2014 Statement of Intent. This is underpinned by a Programme of Bilateral Defence Co-operation which provides a framework to enhance our bilateral co-operation in a number of key areas, including enhancing levels of interoperability, capability collaboration, concepts and doctrine, operations, training and exercises. Sweden joined the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force in 2017 and is a member of the Northern Group. Opportunities for further bilateral co-operation are reviewed through regular consultations at both the political and military level.

Denmark: Military Alliances

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps she is taking to increase defence and security cooperation with Denmark.

Mark Lancaster: The UK has a very close defence and security relationship with Denmark, underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2012. We continue to enhance our levels of bilateral co-operation and interoperability though NATO, joint operational deployments (Denmark contributed a Company to the UK-led battalion based in Estonia in 2018, part of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence), the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force and the Northern Group. Opportunities for further bilateral co-operation are reviewed through regular consultations at both the political and military level.

Ministry of Defence: Living Wage

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of organisations that hold contracts with her Department pay the National Living Wage.

Stuart Andrew: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold information on the proportion of contracted organisations that pay the National Living Wage. However, employers, including those involved in contracts placed by the MOD are required to abide by applicable employment legislation such as the National Living Wage. MOD policy is to include a contract condition in its contracts which reinforces this.

Department for Work and Pensions

Department for Work and Pensions: Metro Newspaper

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department's advertisement of 22 May 2019 about Universal Credit, published in the Metro newspaper, what the total cost was for that advertising campaign; how the information within that advertisement was sourced; and whether that advertisement was prepared by an independent organisation or by employees of her Department.

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department spent from the public purse advertising in The Metro newspaper on 22 May 2019.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of her Department's advertising in the 22 May 2019 edition of the Metro newspaper.

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department has paid to the Metro Newspaper for each of its advertorials over the next nine weeks.

Angela Crawley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department has spent on an advertising campaign for universal credit to be published over the next nine weeks in the Metro newspapers.

Alok Sharma: The Department provides services to around 22 million people, and has a responsibility to communicate policy and essential information to claimants and other key audiences, in a similar way to other government departments. Newspaper advertising contributes to our routine communications activity that has been running alongside the rollout of Universal Credit since 2013. The Universal Credit Uncovered media partnership with the Metro is currently underway and running for a further six weeks so we are unable to provide accurate spend to date figures for the partnership. However, we can commit to publish final full spend on the partnership at the end of July once all activity has concluded. The information used for the partnership was sourced by DWP officials. The content features actual claimant case studies and interviews from Jobcentre work coaches, and the advertorials have been developed in partnership with the Metro.

Department for Work and Pensions: Metro Newspaper

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department has spent on the Universal Credit Uncovered advertising campaign.

Alok Sharma: Holding answer received on 06 June 2019



The Department provides services to around 22 million people, and has a responsibility to communicate policy and essential information to claimants and other key audiences, in a similar way to other government departments. Newspaper advertising contributes to our routine communications activity that has been running alongside the rollout of Universal Credit since 2013.The Universal Credit Uncovered media partnership with the Metro is currently underway and running for a further six weeks so we are unable to provide accurate spend to date figures for the partnership. However, we can commit to publish final full spend on the partnership at the end of July once all activity has concluded.The information used for the partnership was sourced by DWP officials. The content features actual claimant case studies and interviews from Jobcentre work coaches, and the advertorials have been developed in partnership with the Metro.

Children: Maintenance

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total amount is of arrears owed to the parent with care that has been written-off by the Child Support Agency since March 2012.

Will Quince: The information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. Information on cases written off since 13th December 2018, when the write off process began, will be published in June 2019 (number of cases) and September 2019 (amounts). Information on the planned changes to the Child Support Agency Quarterly Statistical Summary to incorporate this information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-support-agency-statistics-publication-strategy

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many payments for industrial injuries disablement benefit have been granted in the UK by (a) region, (b) Department for Work and Pensions division and (c) local authority area in the last 12 months.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department publishes quarterly statistics on claims paid and assessments made under the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) scheme here:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit-quarterly-statistics The latest statistics on claims paid under the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme are to September 2018. Table 2.2 of this publication provide the number of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit in payment by region. The information requested for anything below regional level, including DWP divisions and local authority areas, is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been paid in Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit in each (a) region, (b) DWP division and (c) local authority area.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department publishes the benefits caseload and expenditure tables here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2018 The Benefit expenditure by country and region, 1996/97 to 2017/18 spreadsheet includes the latest figures for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB). The information requested for anything below regional level, including DWP divisions and local authority areas, is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit payment have been revised after the death of the recipient (a) in total, (b) following a successful change of circumstances application and (c) following a Tribunal judgement in each of the last five years.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit payment have been revised after the death of the recipient by (a) region, (b) DWP division and (c) local authority area in each of the last five years.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Housing Benefit: Scotland

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many housing benefit claimants have lost their housing benefit following an unsuccessful application for universal credit in Glenrothes and Central Fife constituency.

Will Quince: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Employment Support Allowance: Appeals

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants have appealed successfully at Tribunal to receive employment support allowance (ESA) but have been unable to remain in receipt of ESA because they have been moved to the universal credit system in the interim.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Department for Work and Pensions: Cardiff

Gerald Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to carry out an impact assessment of the effect on (a) staff and (b) customers of the proposed move of staff from Merthyr Tydfil to a new hub north of Cardiff.

Will Quince: We plan to move the staff based in Merthyr Tydfil Ty Bethesda into Treforest between 2021 and 2023.Before any moves take place, staff will have the opportunity for a formal one-to-one discussion with their line managers about how the move will impact them. This helps to assess any equality impacts of the change of location.We anticipate that these formal discussions will take place approximately nine months in advance of any moves.Merthyr Tydfil Ty Bethesda is a processing site with no direct face-to-face customer interaction and an impact assessment on the effect on customers as a result of the move is not required.

Universal Credit

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit claimants have been referred  to local consumer debt advice in the last 12 months.

Alok Sharma: The Department does not maintain records on the number of Universal Credit claimants who have been referred to a local consumer debt advice service. Jobcentre staff have access to information on services and support available in their local area for claimants and will signpost claimants to national and local organisations who provide specialist debt and money management support. In addition, support is available for Universal Credit claimants via the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). MaPS will help UC claimants with personal budgeting and money management through its free helpline, printed guides and digital guidance. For those UC claimants who are in most need of debt advice, MaPS will continue to work with the DWP and other agencies to ensure that they are signposted and referred quickly to local provision – MaPS funds free-to-consumer debt advice in England through a network of providers including StepChange, the Money Advice Trust and Citizens Advice.

Universal Credit

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of claimants of universal credit have (a) taken out an advance at a 40 per cent deduction rate and have been unable to pay back that advance within 12 months, (b) taken out at advance at a 40 per cent deduction rate and (c) taken out the maximum available advance at a 40 per cent deduction rate.

Alok Sharma: Data showing the proportion of the standard allowance which is being used to repay a Universal Credit (UC) advance which: (a) taken out an advance at a 40 per cent deduction rate and have been unable to pay back that advance within 12 months, (b) taken out an advance at a 40 per cent deduction rate and (c) taken out the maximum available advance at a 40 per cent deduction rate could only be supplied with analysis which would incur disproportionate cost to the Department. The maximum amount of a UC advance a claimant can access is subject to them being able to repay it over 12 monthly payments at a rate of no greater than 40 per cent of their standard allowance (this will be reduced to 30 per cent from October 2019). However, there are reasons why the advance repayment may not be taken or may be taken at a lower amount from a claimant in any given month, such as: a. If they have insufficient Universal Credit left in payment, after reductions such as earnings, capital yield and other income are taken into account, then a reduced repayment will be taken or none at all, depending on the amount of UC payment they have left.b. If they have a Fraud Penalty or Conditionality Sanction, the repayment of the advance will stop until these end.c. If they experience an unexpected financial hardship then they can request a deferral of up to 3 months, during which time they will not make any advance repayments.d. If their UC award ends, for whatever reason, they can renegotiate the repayment rate and period with Debt Management who will take into account their new financial circumstances.

Department for Work and Pensions: Metro Newspaper

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to rectify any potentially misleading messages on universal credit published in the Metro newspaper in May 2019.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which minister in her Department authorised the recent universal credit campaign in the Metro newspaper in May 2019.

Alok Sharma: We are the biggest Government Department with a day to day operation on which around 22 million citizens depend. We have a responsibility to advertise Universal Credit and have been doing so for some time. This helps ensure people understand the benefits they may be entitled to and that they have the information they need when it comes to making a claim.The Department has a responsibility to ensure claimants do not miss out on their full entitlements and to encourage people to make their claim as quickly as possible.To identify complaint cases concerning the Universal Credit campaign in the Metro newspaper would require every complaint case to be examined. So, this data could only be collated at a disproportionate cost to the Department.In November 2018 Ministers agreed to the principle of national media partnership. The specific Metro campaign was taken forward by Departmental officials. Ministers agreed the content of the launch products.

Personal Independence Payment: Young People

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many disability living allowance claimants who applied for personal independence payments after their 16th birthday were unsuccessful in their claims.

Justin Tomlinson: There were 49,110 Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants who applied to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) after their 16th birthday and had their claim disallowed at initial decision. This is compared to 77,150 who had their claim awarded at initial decision. Both figures are for initial decisions made between the introduction of PIP in April 2013 and 31st January 2019. Source: PIP ADS Notes:Data includes only “rising 16s” where a claimant is sent a letter inviting them to claim PIP shortly after their 16th birthday. This data does not include DLA claimants aged 16 or older who were reassessed onto PIP for other reasons.Data is for initial decisions only and do not take into account the results of Mandatory Reconsiderations or Appeals.Disallowances are recorded under the following categories: “Disallowed Pre-referral to the AP”*, “Disallowed pre-referral to the AP – due to non-return of Part 2 within the time limit”*, Disallowed – Failed Assessment” and “Disallowed – Failed to Attend Assessment”.Data does not include claimants who registered a claim but voluntarily withdrew their claim during the claim process.PIP data includes normal rules and special rules for the terminally ill claimants.Data has been rounded to the nearest 10.Figures are for Great Britain only.This is unpublished data. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision. *AP = assessment provider

Employment and Support Allowance

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many ESA65B letters her Department sent to GPs in Yorkshire and the Humber in 2018.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department does not hold information on the number of ESA65B letters sent to GPs.The ESA65B letter is normally automatically issued to GPs by the Department’s IT system in every case where an Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimant has been found ‘fit for work’ following a Work Capability Assessment (WCA).If a claimant states that they do not agree to information about the determination of their WCA being shared with their GP, the claim will be maintained clerically and the papers noted that the letter is not to be issued.The latest ESA statistics, which show the number of claimants found fit for work, can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2019

Universal Credit

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in what circumstances her Department refers universal credit claimants to contact their Member of Parliament.

Alok Sharma: Information is available via Gov.uk regarding the Department’s complaints procedure and what steps people can take if at any stage they disagree with the response they have received from the Department.If after following the Department’s complaints procedure a claimant remains unsatisfied with the Departments final response, they can ask the Independent Case Examiner (ICE) to review the Departments handling of the complaint.If the claimant is unhappy with the response they receive from ICE we would then advise the claimant to contact their Member of Parliament (MP) to request the complaint is sent to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman for further review.In addition, the Department will respond to all complaints regarding current Policy/Legislation providing a full explanation of the Policy and how it is applied. However, if the claimant disagrees with the actual Policy/Legislation rather than its application they may be advised to contact their local MP to raise their concerns.https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/complaints-procedurePrior to the roll-out of Universal Credit Full Service in their constituency, both Ministers and Service Leaders (formally District managers) wrote to each Hon. Member. The letter explained the implicit consent arrangements for MPs and also provided the telephone number and email address of the Service Leader in the constituency, so that MPs can contact Service Leaders if there are urgent constituent cases that need attention. This is the best route to raise issues on behalf of constituents and works well because MPs’ offices can establish local relationships.We have recently written to hon. Members to confirm named contacts and local telephone numbers to allow local constituency related Universal Credit cases to be raised directly. The letters also extend an invitation for MPs to visit their local Jobcentre to see the work they are doing.

Universal Credit

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints she has received on the recent universal credit campaign in the Metro newspaper; and if she will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she consulted Ministers in her Department on the content of the recent universal credit campaign in the Metro.

Alok Sharma: We are the biggest Government Department with a day to day operation on which around 22 million citizens depend. We have a responsibility to advertise Universal Credit and have been doing so for some time. This helps ensure people understand the benefits they may be entitled to and that they have the information they need when it comes to making a claim.The Department has a responsibility to ensure claimants do not miss out on their full entitlements and to encourage people to make their claim as quickly as possible.To identify complaint cases concerning the Universal Credit campaign in the Metro newspaper would require every complaint case to be examined. So, this data could only be collated at a disproportionate cost to the Department.In November 2018 Ministers agreed to the principle of national media partnerships. The specific Metro campaign was taken forward by Departmental officials. Ministers agreed the content of the launch products.

Occupational Pensions: Fees and Charges

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of auto-enrolment on charging levels in the pensions sector.

Guy Opperman: DWP’s latest pension charges survey, published in October 2017, found that most schemes charge between 0.38 and 0.54% depending on the type of pension. This is well within the 0.75% charge cap which applies to the default fund of pension schemes used for automatic enrolment.The October 2017 charges survey can be found here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/652086/pension-charges-survey-2016-charges-in-defined-contribution-pension-schemes.pdfThis matter is always kept under review.

Post Office: Pilot Schemes

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the pilot services run by Post Office Ltd to (a) verify identities for the National Insurance application process, (b) support job seekers in rural areas, and (c) verify supporting documents for customers of the pension scheme, (a) started, (b) will finish; and what the cost to the public purse has been of those pilots.

Guy Opperman: While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it has the freedom to deliver its strategy as an independent business. Therefore, this issue is an operational matter for Post Office Limited.However, BEIS Ministers and officials do engage regularly with representatives of Post Office Limited on a range of strategic issues of mutual interest.

Pensions: Consumer Information

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that consumers' state pension information is available on the pensions dashboard.

Guy Opperman: Pension dashboards are digital interfaces that will allow individuals to see their pensions savings, including their state pension information online in one place to assist them with their retirement planning.At Budget 2018, we committed to providing state pension information via dashboards and we are working with HM Revenue & Customs to make this happen at the earliest possible opportunity.

Pensions: Consumer Information

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to make it compulsory for pension providers to give their data to the pensions dashboard.

Guy Opperman: Yes.

Pensions: Local Government

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on encouraging local government pensions funds to divest from carbon-intensive industries and fossil fuels.

Guy Opperman: The DWP has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. However, much like with trustees of occupational pension schemes, the local pension committees of the individual Local Government Pension Funds are responsible for their own investment decisions. As I said during the Westminster Hall debate regarding Pension Funds: Financial and Ethical Investments on the 22 May 2019: “For too long there has been a perception by too many trustees -I am happy to clarify this as a Government Minister- that the environmental practices of the firms they invest in are purely ethical concerns, which they do not need to worry about: that is utterly wrong. Aside from the ethical considerations, there are real financial risks resulting from climate change. With the long-term horizons of pension investing, trustees must now consider that when they set out their investment strategies. Trustees who do not consider those matters will be breaching their statutory and potentially their fiduciary duties not only to current but future members.” The full debate can be viewed here:https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2019-05-22/debates/D3194408-7581-4635-AEDC-6D22AD6F0EBC/PensionFundsFinancialAndEthicalInvestments

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on the draft legislation to include Dupuytren's Contracture to the list of prescribed diseases for the purpose of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

Justin Tomlinson: The inclusion of Dupuytren’s Contracture in the list of prescribed diseases, for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit was announced in the Autumn Budget of 2018.Since the announcement, the Department has been working towards implementation and expects to bring forward legislation towards the latter end of 2019.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of personal independence payment and employment and support allowance decisions made by (a) ATOS, and (b) Maximus were overturned on appeal in each year for which data is available.

Justin Tomlinson: Assessment Providers do not make the benefit decisions which are appealed to Her Majesty's Court and Tribunal Service (HMCTS). They provide assessment reports to the department’s decision makers who use that as evidence to make the actual benefit decision. It is that decision which is appealed.PIP assessments are delivered by IAS (formally known as Atos) and Capita. Information on the proportion of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decisions following an IAS assessment that are overturned on appeal is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.ESA Work Capability Assessments (WCA) are delivered by the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA), operated by Maximus. CHDA began delivering WCAs from March 2015. Experimental statistics on the number of ESA (WCA) completed and the number where the decision was overturned on appeal by period of claim start are available in Table 17 of the publication “ESA: outcomes of Work Capability Assessments including mandatory reconsiderations and appeals: March 2019”, available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2019

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to her Written Statement of 5 March 2019, HC WS1376, if she will place in the Library a copy of the contract terms for the extension of the Health and Disability Assessment Service.

Justin Tomlinson: The negotiations to extend the Health and Disability Assessment Service contract for 17 months until 31 July 2021 are still to be concluded. There are currently no plans to publish a redacted version of the contract which supports this extension in the House of Commons library.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Livestock: Animal Welfare

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the merits of a preventative approach to animal health in improving the productivity of agriculture; and what steps he will take to reward farmers that take such an approach.

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will (a) take steps through the Agriculture Bill to increase animal health standards and (b) make an assessment of the merits of a resilient approach to disease management to reduce productivity losses and subsequent food shortages.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government is highly supportive of a resilient and preventative approach to livestock disease which supports higher productivity in farming and enables wider benefits. The approach was endorsed in responses to our consultation paper Health and Harmony: the future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit. The potential was set out, for example, in ‘Study to Model the Impact of Controlling Endemic Cattle Diseases and Conditions on National Cattle Productivity, Agricultural Performance and Greenhouse Gas Emissions’. We are now working with industry and veterinary representatives to develop practical plans to further this approach and the Agriculture Bill is drafted to give the Secretary of State powers to make payments to protect and improve the health of livestock and to collect and share data relating to livestock health and traceability.

Animal Welfare

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2019 to Question 254174, on Animal welfare, if he will establish a database on the number of animal welfare inspectors appointed under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

David Rutley: Anyone is able to take out a prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and it is on this basis that the RSPCA investigate calls and prosecute hundreds of people each year for offences under the Act. Local authorities also have enabling powers under the Act and make decisions on their approach to the Act based on local needs and resource priorities and the arrangements that work best for them working in partnership with others where helpful. We currently are not planning to establish a database of all those who are engaged in inspections and investigations under the Act.

Animal Welfare: Inspections

Heidi Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect on animal welfare of it not being a mandatory requirement for a local authority to have an animal welfare inspector with responsibility for enforcement of Animal Welfare Act 2006; and what representations his Department has received in the last 12 months from (a) the Home Office and (b) police forces on the costs of taking steps to protect animal welfare where a local authority animal welfare inspector is not in place.

David Rutley: Anyone is able to take out a prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and it is on this basis that the RSPCA investigate calls and prosecute hundreds of people each year for offences under the Act. Local authorities also have enabling powers under the Act and make decisions on their approach to the Act based on local needs and resource priorities and the arrangements that work best for them, working as necessary in partnership with others where helpful. Defra is in regular discussion with the police and Home Office on animal welfare issues and we have received no specific representations from them in the last 12 months on the costs to them of protecting animal welfare where a local authority animal welfare inspector is not in place.

Soya Beans: Imports

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to (a) monitor and (b) prevent the (i) direct and (ii) indirect import of deforestation soy.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government established an industry-led Roundtable on Sustainable Soya to help industry act on a shared goal of reaching resilient, secure and conversion-free soy supply by 2020. The Roundtable has published a baseline report from which to monitor the progress of Roundtable members in tracking the direct and indirect imports of deforestation soy. With the support of the Roundtable, eight of the largest UK supermarkets representing a combined retail market share of 83% have published new sourcing policies to deliver sustainable soya to the UK market. The Roundtable is also working with other national initiatives to share lessons and information on soya imports (direct and indirect) to support a mass market move to sustainable soya.

Birds: Pest Control

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the General Licences (a) GL04, (b) GL05 and (c) GL06 issued by Natural England, whether the 2014 Natural England review made an assessment of legality issues relating to those licences; and for what reason such licences have continued to be issued in that format.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Natural England’s 2014 review consulted on 46 proposals on general and class licences. These included one proposal to strengthen compliance with the requirement for licence users to consider alternative lawful solutions before resorting to lethal control permitted under licences GL04, GL05 and GL06. Following public consultation, there was no consensus on the need for this change which, consequently, was not taken forward. Natural England had no legal advice that questioned the legality of the licences until the Wild Justice challenge in February 2019.

Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to review the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010.

David Rutley: The Government committed to reviewing the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010 after they had been in force for five years. The Government’s Post Implementation Review of the Regulations was published on 15 September 2016 and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/welfare-of-racing-greyhounds-post-implementation-review-of-the-2010-welfare-of-racing-greyhounds-regulations

Livestock: Exports

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to amend the regulation of the export of live animals for slaughter and the labelling of consignments as for fattening, in the event that the UK leaves the EU (a) with a deal and (b) without a deal.

David Rutley: Our manifesto made it clear that we would take early steps to control the export of live farm animals for slaughter once we leave the European Union (EU). Last year we launched a Call for Evidence on controlling live exports for slaughter and improving the welfare of all animals during transport. We passed this evidence to the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC), who recently submitted their advice to Defra and the Devolved Administrations including in relation to live exports. We are considering FAWC’s recommendations and expect to come forward with proposals for public consultation to improve animal welfare in transport in due course. We intend to strengthen welfare in transport regulation whether we leave the EU with a deal or without a deal.As we move towards a new relationship with Europe and the rest of the world, we have a unique opportunity to shape future animal welfare policy in the UK to ensure the highest standards in every area.

Eggs: Imports

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of a ban on the import of caged hen eggs.

David Rutley: The Government shares the British public’s high regard for animal welfare. In 2012 we banned the domestic use of battery cages for laying hens. Our current import requirements for eggs and for egg products will continue to apply when we leave the EU. We are committed to further enhancing welfare standards once we leave the EU and there will be an opportunity to consider further our position towards imports of eggs and other products.

Animal Welfare

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure travel operators do more to prevent the exploitation of captive wild animals.

David Rutley: The Government shares the concerns of the public about this issue and we are committed to the highest standards of animal welfare, both here in the UK and in our work with countries abroad. Britain engages with other countries both directly and as part of global forums such as the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health). Ministers are committed to working to promote the conservation of wild animals worldwide and the Government has been working with the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) to encourage them to make customers aware of reported animal welfare issues abroad. It is important that when going abroad, tourists consider whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that animals have been mistreated before deciding whether to visit an animal attraction. ABTA published Global Welfare Guidance for Animals in Tourism. This includes guidance on unacceptable activities which are known to have a detrimental effect on animal welfare, and extended minimum welfare requirements for whales and dolphins. Defra encourages tourists to report any animal welfare concerns to their UK tour operator or travel agent on return to the UK.

Tree Planting

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many trees have been planted by the Government since 2010.

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Government has made towards its target of planting 11 million trees.

David Rutley: I refer the Hon. Member to the reply previously given to the Hon. Member for Slough, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, on 14 May 2019 to PQ 252670.

Processed Food

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) enforcing marketing restrictions on ultra-processed foods and (b) promoting healthy eating.

David Rutley: Defra has not made such an assessment. We work closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) who lead on issues such as the promotion of high fat salt and sugar foods. DHSC have conducted impact assessments for all recent consultations arising from the childhood obesity plan.

Pets: Death

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to obligate councils to scan dead pets they collect from roads and paths.

David Rutley: I recognise how painful it is to lose a pet and it must be very difficult to not have closure when a beloved pet is killed on the road, and the owner is not informed. It is established good practice for local authorities to scan any dog or cat found on the streets so that the owner can be informed and I am keen to work together with local authorities and others to further promote best practice in this area. In 2015, the necessary arrangements were made to all Highways England’s contracts to collect and identify cats and dogs killed on the strategic road network and contact owners where possible. This included retrofitting the Network Management Manual (NMM) where in addition to dogs, cat fatalities are collected and identified where possible. In addition, under the Road Traffic Act 1988, there is a requirement for drivers to stop and report accidents involving certain working animals including cattle, horses and dogs. The Highway Code also advises drivers to report accidents involving any animal to the police. This should lead to many owners being notified when their pets are killed on roads. I am pleased to have the opportunity to debate these issues in the Westminster Hall on 17 June.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the number of pilot projects initially envisaged as part of the environmental land management scheme has been reduced.

Mr Robert Goodwill: My officials are currently developing plans for the National Pilot of the Environmental Land Management scheme. Among other things, this will involve deciding how many farmers and other land managers will take part. Decisions on specific numbers have not yet been made. The pilot is likely to begin with relatively small numbers of participants to help test the prototype system, identify problems and make improvements. The intention is to increase numbers of participants throughout the three year pilot period to test the system on a larger scale.

Animal Welfare: Inspections

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to make it a mandatory requirement that local authorities employ animal welfare inspectors.

David Rutley: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion, Caroline Lucas, on 21 May 2019, PQ 254174.

Angling: Licensing

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to end the sale of rod fishing licenses at post office branches.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Environment Agency is not currently planning to end the sale of rod licences through the Post Office and is in the process of renewing its contract with the Post Office. This contract will apply only to England and Wales. It will include a two year break clause at which point the contract will again be reviewed.

Water: Pollution Control

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Government is making on achieving EU environmental quality standards for surface water by 2027.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Since 2015, over 3,100 miles of surface water have been enhanced to achieve good status, and the Environment Agency has set a target in the Government’s River Basin Management Plans to enhance 5,000 miles by 2021. The 2015 River Basin Management Plans confirmed £3 billion worth of investment over six years.

Rivers: Pollution Control

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to upgrade drainage systems to treat pollutants before they reach rivers.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Since water industry privatisation in 1989, around £25 billion has been invested to reduce pollution from sewage, covering improvements in sewage treatment and in sewer overflows. In England, between 2015 and 2020, water companies are investing over £3 billion to improve their sewerage infrastructure. This has helped to achieve a 61% reduction in the amount of phosphorus load and a 72% reduction in the amount of ammonia discharged from sewage treatment works since 1995. In addition, 7,000 sewer overflows have been improved since 1995, reducing the impact of pollution from sewage discharges. The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan contains a number of actions to achieve our aim of clean and plentiful water, including increasing the uptake of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). SuDS features such as permeable surfaces, storage tanks and ponds, can help improve water quality as well as reduce the risk of surface water flooding. A revised National Planning Policy Framework, which further encourages SuDS in new developments was published on 24 July 2018. In addition, Government recently consulted on proposals to improve long-term planning for drainage and wastewater management.

Home Office

Police: Biometrics

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which police forces are currently trialling face recognition technology.

Mr Nick Hurd: Facial recognition technology takes two main forms. The first compares an image of an unknown person (for example caught on CCTV committing a crime, reviewed after the event) against a database of facial images of people who have been arrested. All police forces use the Police National Database facial search facility.  The second form is live facial recognition (LFR), which compares images of passers-by taken from live cameras with images on a watch list (a database of suspects). Possible matches produced by LFR systems are always checked by a human operator before deciding what, if any, action to take. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and South Wales Police (SWP) are piloting LFR. The pilots are important to test this technology, which has the potential to improve public safety. SWP have been carrying out trials since May 2017. MPS completed a series of ten pilots in February 2019.Both forces have commissioned independent evaluations of their trials. Cardiff University has published its evaluation of South Wales Police’s trials between May 2017 and March 2018. Essex University will shortly be publishing their review of the Metropolitan Police Service’s trials. MPS will consider next steps in the light of this review. The Law Enforcement Facial Images and New Biometric Modalities Oversight and Advisory Board oversees the police use of LFR, the retention of custody images, and emerging new biometrics. The Board’s minutes are published on GOV.UK

Entry Clearances: Ministers of Religion

Mhairi Black: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to engage with the views of religious groups on the new Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa route.

Caroline Nokes: The Tier 2 route for Ministers of Religion has been in place for several years. In January 2019 changes were made to the Immigration Rules governing the Tier 5 visa for religious workers. The Government wrote to faith leaders in December, setting out the detail and rationale behind those changes.We are embarking on an extensive programme of engagement, in connection with the future immigration system, and will be talking to representatives from a range of faith and community groups. Officials also remain in regular contact with their representatives.

Synthetic Cannabinoids

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs plans to publish its review into the inclusion of synthetic cannabinoids in Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations.

Mr Nick Hurd: The ACMD were formally commissioned on 15 February 2019 to advise the Home Secretary on part-two of the review on cannabis and cannabis related products. The ACMD will provide their advice by Summer 2020The full commission to the ACMD can be found on the Home Office website: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/779330/Long-term_commission_to_the_ACMD_on_CBPM_-_05.02.2019.pdf

Human Trafficking: Children

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Article 16.2 of the EU Anti-Trafficking Directive 2011/36, what assessment he has made of adequacy of opportunities for child victims of trafficking living in the UK to secure a durable solution; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Article 16.2 of the EU Anti-Trafficking Directive 2011/36, and recommendation 5.4 of 2015 UNICEF report, Achieving a durable solution for trafficked children, what steps he is taking to establish a multi-agency best interests decision-making process to find a durable solution for each child victim of trafficking living in the UK.

Caroline Nokes: Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 requires the Home Office to ensure that its immigration, asylum, nationality and customs functions are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are in the United Kingdom. This includes ensuring that the best interests of the child must be a primary consideration in every decision taken in respect of themUnaccompanied child victims who are not granted refugee status or discretionary leave to remain are not required to leave the UK unless we are confident that there are safe and adequate reception arrangements in the country to which they will be returned. Instead, leave to remain is granted for 30 months or until they are 17½ years of age, whichever is the shorter period. Upon turning 18, they are expected to return to their home country or make a further application to the Home Office if they believe they have a lawful basis to remain.If the child is a looked after child, local authority children’s social care social workers and personal advisors will work with the child to develop a pathway plan for when they turn 18 - whether they have been granted permanent leave to stay, or are still awaiting a decision, or have been given temporary leave to stay until they turn 18.To ensure that they are prepared for the possibility that their asylum claim or immigration application is not successful their plan will need to include a focus on their return to their home country at 18 This holistic and informative approach gives children who do not have, or do not yet have, leave to remain in the UK long-term the best chance of achieving durable outcomes, whether in the UK or abroad.In addition, Section 48 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, makes provisions for Independent Child Trafficking Advocates (ICTAs). The purpose of an ICTA is to advocate on behalf of the child to ensure their best interests are reflected in the decision-making processes undertaken by the public authorities who are involved in the child’s care. Drawing on their knowledge and experience, ICTAs are able to represent the views of the child at multi-agency meetings and, where appropriate, suggest approaches that might not reflect the views of the child but represent the child’s best interests.The Government is committed to rolling out ICTAs nationally with the service currently being available in one third of local authorities in England and Wales with the GovernmentThe Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act led by Frank Field, Baroness Butler-Sloss and Maria Miller has recently considered Section 48 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which makes provisions for ICTAs. The Review’s interim reports can be found here. The Government is currently carefully considering the recommendations for ICTAs for national roll out.

Human Trafficking: Children

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to enable child victims of trafficking to apply for a grant of leave to remain in the UK on the basis of their identification as a victim through the National Referral Mechanism; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: Child victims of trafficking identified through the National Referral Mechanism often apply for asylum and are granted refugee status if their applications are successful. If they are not granted asylum they are considered for a grant of discretionary leave to remain.Additionally, unaccompanied child victims who are not granted refugee status or discretionary leave to remain are not required to leave the UK unless we are confident that there are safe and adequate reception arrangements in the country to which they will be returned. Instead, leave to remain is granted for 30 months or until they are 17½ years of age, whichever is the shorter period.

Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc) Act 2019

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans for the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019 to be implemented before October 2019.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office is currently working on implementation plans to introduce the provisions in the Act. This will facilitate an update of the marriage entry to include the names of both parents of a couple.The Act also provides for civil partnership to be extended to opposite-sex couples which must be implemented no later than 31 December 2019.An implementation date for each of these provisions will be announced in due course.

Marriage Certificates

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timeframe is for operational changes needed for the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019's provisions to allow names of both parents to be included on marriage certificates to be completed.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office is currently working on implementation plans to introduce the provisions in the Act. This will facilitate an update of the marriage entry to include the names of both parents of a couple.The Act also provides for civil partnership to be extended to opposite-sex couples which must be implemented no later than 31 December 2019.An implementation date for each of these provisions will be announced in due course.

Asylum: Finance

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason his Department decided to move the provision of financial support to asylum seekers from post offices to Aspen cards.

Caroline Nokes: The functionality of the Aspen card was thoroughly tested prior to its rollout in May 2017 and there were a number of factors which influenced the decision to move to a payment card from Post Offices.Primarily, the sub-contractual arrangements were coming to an end, and the Asylum Registration Card (ARC) used for identification and payment purposes was being upgraded. Other factors included improved convenience and accessibility for service users, and a reduction in processing costs associated with reduced cash handling.

Asylum: Finance

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much financial support was paid to asylum seekers through post offices in each of the last five years.

Caroline Nokes: Post May 2017 all funding for financial support was paid to asylum seekers via ASPEN cards and prior to that Home Office records do not indicate whether financial support was paid via a Post Office, a card or in cash/vouchers to asylum seekers.

Asylum: Finance

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his Department's contract to provide financial support to asylum seekers through an Aspen card will expire.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office’s contract to provide financial support to asylum seekers through an Aspen Card will expire on 27 November 2019 (with the option to extend for a further 6 months to 27 May 2020).

Asylum: Finance

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost to the public purse is of the contract to provide financial support to asylum seekers through Aspen cards.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office does not publish data on the costs to the public purse for the contract to provide financial support to asylum seekers through Aspen cards.

Biometrics: Post Offices

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason his Department stopped providing biometric enrolments through post office branches.

Caroline Nokes: Our contract with the Post Office Ltd is coming to an end so we took the opportunity to modernise our services through the introduction of new front end services arrangements, which were procured in 2018.The successful supplier in this procurement was Sopra Steria Ltd. The resulting UK Visas and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS) brings together identity checks, evidence submission and biometric enrolment and provides more choices for the customer about the way in which they complete their application.

Biometrics: Post Offices

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for each available year, what the cost to the public purse was of his Department's arrangement with Post Office Ltd to provide biometric enrolments.

Caroline Nokes: Since 2015 the net cost to the public purse for the Home Offices arrangement with Post Office Ltd has been as follows: Total (Net)2015£1,427,773.002016£1,156,030.002017£1,233,200.002018£1,640,528.002019*£494,160.00* 2019 data is for January to April only.

Biometrics: Post Offices

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his Department's contract with the Post Office Ltd to provide the biometric residence permit collection service (a) began, (b) will end; and whether he plans to extend that service.

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much his Department has paid to Post Office Ltd to provide the biometric residence permit collection service in each year for which data is available.

Caroline Nokes: The contract with the Post Office Ltd to provide the biometric residence permit (BRP) collection service started in June 2012, although the service only became operational in February 2015. The current BRP Collection contract is due to end in July 2019, however we do have an option to extend the contract for a further year to July 2020. The Home Office is currently considering this option, a decision is imminent.In terms of the yearly cost of the contract:2018/19: £2,131,283. 95 2017/18: £2,056,394.35 2016/17: £2,051,690.252015/16: £1,610,036.952014/15: £123,0002013/14: £257,0002012/13: £1,558,0002011/12: £441,000 (Set up costs)

Modern Slavery Act 2015 Independent Review

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Independent review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015: Final Report, published in May 2019, when his Department plans to respond to the recommendations in that report.

Victoria Atkins: The Government is carefully considering the recommendations made by the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and will publish a formal response in summer 2019.

Human Trafficking: Children

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the May 2019 final report of the independent review of the Modern Slavery Act, whether he plans to implement the recommendations on introducing one-to-one Independent Child Trafficking Advocates across England and Wales as soon as possible for trafficked children.

Victoria Atkins: The Government welcomes the findings of the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act, which has published its final report.https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/independent-review-of-the-modern-slavery-actWe are carefully considering the recommendations of the Review, including the recommendations on the Independent Child Trafficking Advocate (ICTA) service, and will publish a formal response in summer 2019. The Government remains committed to rolling out the ICTA service nationally as soon as possible.

Extradition: USA

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many extradition requests were made by the US for UK citizens in each year since 2014; and how many of those requests are outstanding.

Mr Nick Hurd: As a matter of long-standing policy and practice, we do not disclose whether an extradition request has been made or received until such time as a person is arrested in relation to the request. We therefore cannot provide the total number of extradition requests received from the US for British citizens in each year since 2014.We can however provide the total number of British citizens (including dual nationals) arrested in relation to extradition requests received from the US since 2014.Since 1 January 2014, 24 British citizens (including dual nationals) have been arrested in the UK in relation to extradition requests from the US.Eight of these cases remain outstanding.All figures are from local management information, and have not been quality assured to the level of published National Statistics. As such they should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change. The figures do not include Scotland, which deals with its own extradition cases.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2019 to Question 252534 on Immigration: EU Nationals, if he will place in the Library, a copy of the Equality Impact Assessment on the EU Settlement Scheme.

Caroline Nokes: A Policy Equality Statement, which sets out the Government’s consideration of the impacts of the EU Settlement Scheme on those who share a protected characteristic, will be published shortly.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2019 to Question 254185 on Immigration: EU Nationals, if he will place in the Library, a copy of the algorithm applied by his Department during automated residency checks.

Caroline Nokes: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 11 June 2019.The correct answer should have been:

Guidance on the automated checks process has been published on gov.uk and a copy of this will be placed in the Library. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-settlement-scheme-uk-tax-and-benefits-records-automated-check.The rules for assessing continuous residence are already set out in the Immigration Rules. The automated checks simply apply these principles to the data provided by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and The Department for Work and Pensions. The automated checks replace the need, where data exists, for an applicant to submit any other forms of evidence.



The Automated Checks - EU Settlement Scheme 
(Word Document, 27.1 KB)

Caroline Nokes: Guidance on the automated checks process has been published on gov.uk and a copy of this will be placed in the Library. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-settlement-scheme-uk-tax-and-benefits-records-automated-check.The rules for assessing continuous residence are already set out in the Immigration Rules. The automated checks simply apply these principles to the data provided by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and The Department for Work and Pensions. The automated checks replace the need, where data exists, for an applicant to submit any other forms of evidence.



The Automated Checks - EU Settlement Scheme 
(Word Document, 27.1 KB)

Immigration: EU Nationals

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2019 to Question 254812, whether staff at the Home Office and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs will access that data for the purposes of the EU Settlement Scheme exclusively.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2019 to Question 254812 on Immigration: EU Nationals and with reference to page 14 of the Memorandum of Understanding on the EU Settlement Scheme between his Department and the Department for Work and Pensions, whether staff at the Department for Work and Pensions access to that data is restricted to the purposes of the EU Settlement Scheme.

Caroline Nokes: Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs has full access to a person’s tax records as per HMRC’s statutory responsibilities and their access to tax records data is not limited to the EU Settlement Scheme.Similarly, Department for Work and Pensions has full access to a person’s benefit and pension records as per DWP’s statutory responsibilities and their access to these records is not limited to the scheme. The Home Office processes a calculation of residence on based the data provided and does not retain access to the source data in an application to the EU Settlement Scheme as confirmed by the MOU.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the letter dated 1 May 2019 from the Minister of State for Immigration to the Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, if his Department will include data on the responses received to the question of whether applicants have been continuously resident for less than five years, or more than five years, in relation to the outcome of the application in the monthly Official Statistics report on the EU Settlement Scheme.

Caroline Nokes: The first official statistics on the operation of the ‘EU Settlement Scheme Sta-tistics, April 2019’ were published on 30th May 2019 and can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/eu-settlement-scheme-statistics-april-2019The Home Office is committed to publishing more detailed quarterly statistics on the EU Settlement Scheme as a whole, alongside our Immigration Statistics from August 2019. Home Office statisticians are currently considering the content and will take into account the views of statistics users.

Department for International Development

Department for International Development: Migrant Workers

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made of the number of EU nationals employed by his Department by country.

Harriett Baldwin: The number of EU nationals employed by DFID, as at 31 May 2019, who have declared their nationality is broken down in the table below. It is not mandatory for staff to declare their nationality.NationalityCount of StaffAustrianLess than 5British2506BulgarianLess than 5CzechLess than 5Danish7Dutch10FinnishLess than 5French19German23GreekLess than 5Irish31Italian28LithuanianLess than 5Polish5PortugueseLess than 5RomanianLess than 5SlovakLess than 5SpanishLess than 5Swedish5Undeclared1076

Bangladesh: Rohingya

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made of the number of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh his Department has supported to date.

Harriett Baldwin: The UK is a leading donor to the Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh. We estimate that UK-funded assistance provided since August 2017 has reached most of the 1.3 million refugees and vulnerable host community members targeted by the international humanitarian Joint Response Plan. Our aid is making a significant difference to the lives of the refugees and we are providing assistance in all major sectors, including food security and nutrition, shelter, health, protection (including gender-based violence), site management, water, hygiene promotion and sanitation.

Pakistan: HIV Infection

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the recent HIV outbreak among children in Pakistan.

Harriett Baldwin: We are closely tracking reports of an outbreak of just over 600 new cases of HIV, 75% of them among children, in a town called Ratto Dero in Sindh province. The UK government invests significantly in the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GF), which works closely with the provincial government in Sindh. There has been an intensive effort to test the population for HIV to establish the extent of the outbreak. Over 20,000 people have been tested to date. We are in close contact with the Global Fund and will work with them to ascertain whether any further assistance is needed, for example to make treatment available for those who need it and prevent onward transmission.

Overseas Aid

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether he plans to end the use of private for-profit contractors in the aid industry; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of capping the salaries of aid charities’ CEOs.

Harriett Baldwin: DFID values the unique expertise all its partners offer in the administration of aid. To date, we have no plans to end our use of private for-profit contractors who play a small but vital part by bringing sector expertise, operational flexibility and innovation through, for example the early exploitation of new technology providing products or services in new or underdeveloped markets, enabling DFID to help people in some of the most challenging environments in the world. DFID does not place a cap on salaries of aid charities’ CEOs, since we recognise that salaries are driven by competition and multiple market forces making it impractical to set a maximum salary. We do however subject all our partners to rigorous scrutiny of their effectiveness and value for money, in advance and throughout the delivery of our programmes. Our priority is to drive value for British taxpayers’ money, cost-effectiveness and impact in all our programmes.

Forests: Conservation

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government has taken since signing the Amsterdam Declaration in 2015 to eliminate deforestation from agricultural commodity chains.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government’s 25-Year Environment Action Plan outlines our ambition to reduce deforestation caused by the UK’s imports of agricultural commodities and has established an industry-led Task Force to advise Government on how to achieve that goal. Internationally, the UK has been an active member the Amsterdam Declarations Partnership, providing funding to support analysis and coordination. Through our bilateral programme, we have developed the Investments in Forests and Sustainable Land Use programme, which runs from 2015-2023, with current committed funding of £113 million from DFID and BEIS. It was designed to accelerate progress on delivery of the Amsterdam Declaration commitments, and operates in Southeast Asia, East Africa, West and Central Africa (with DFID support), and in Latin America (with BEIS assistance). The programme is pioneering new approaches which both promote economic growth and livelihoods and protect forests. It currently has a portfolio of public-private partnerships that aim to bring up to 1.4 million hectares of land under sustainable management and mobilise up to £350m of private investment.

Afghanistan: Schools

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make an assessment of the security situation for schools in Afghanistan.

Dr Andrew Murrison: In 2018, 513,962 children (187,082 girls and 326,880 boys) were unable to continue their education due to the closure of over 1,000 schools related to security reasons in Afghanistan. According to UNICEF this marks a fourfold increase to the previous year. DFID has invested in the Education Cannot Wait Global Fund which supports the Education in Emergencies Working Group led by the Ministry of Education in Afghanistan. Its aim is to ensure every child in Afghanistan can learn without fear and in safety, and to enable them to reach their full potential.

Bangladesh: Females

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of (a) the level of gender equality and (b) progress on meeting Sustainable Development Goal 5 in Bangladesh.

Harriett Baldwin: There has been progress on gender equality in Bangladesh in recent years but there are still significant challenges, including on gender-based violence, barriers to workforce participation and the prevalence of child-marriage. The Department for International Development’s support to gender equality in Bangladesh includes working with men and boys to tackle social norms around violence, training that helps women to find decent employment, encouraging girls to stay in education, and raising awareness of family planning options. There is also a strong focus on SDG5 in our support to the Rohingya refugees and surrounding communities.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure (a) roads through Taiz and Ad-Dhale remain open to humanitarian supplies and (b) humanitarian convoys in that area are protected.

Dr Andrew Murrison: We are concerned about the deterioration of humanitarian access in Taiz and Ad-Dhale, following the recent escalation of fighting. We are closely engaging with the UN’s Humanitarian Co-ordinator and organisations delivering humanitarian assistance to establish the severity of the operating conditions they are facing. The UK continues to call on all parties to the conflict to comply with UN Security Resolution 2451 to facilitate safe, rapid, and unhindered access for humanitarian actors. We are clear that there can be no military solution to this conflict. A political settlement is the only way to provide long term stability to Yemen and address the worsening humanitarian crisis. We encourage further constructive engagement from both parties to achieve this.

Yemen: Internally Displaced People

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support his Department is providing to internally displaced people in Yemen.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The UK is providing a range of support to displaced people in Yemen in response to the displacement of 3.3 million people since the conflict began in 2015. Last financial year (2018/19), for example, we provided food assistance to over 490,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) and since June 2017 we have helped over 40,000 IDPs receive psychosocial support and provided over 35,000 with life-saving health care. The UK has also supported the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide primary healthcare and mental health services, legal assistance, child protection and support to survivors of gender-based violence. We are supporting IOM and UNHCR with £9 million this financial year (2019/20) to allow them to continue providing these vital services.

Department for International Development: Public Expenditure

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the oral contribution of 6 June 2019 on the amount spend on climate and the environment, what baseline his Department will use to measure the doubling; and what the timeframe is for that target to be achieved.

Harriett Baldwin: The Secretary of State wants to double the amount that the Department spends on climate and the environment over five years from £1.1bn a year in 2020/21 to £2.2bn a year in 2025/26. This builds on the already significant uplift in climate finance over the last five years.

Palestinians: Terrorism

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to his Department's Memorandum of Understanding with the Palestinian Authority (PA), what discussions his Department has had with the PA on reports that the PA President's spokesperson describing convicted Palestinian terrorists as soldiers who act on their behalf and receive orders from them.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The UK strongly condemns all forms of violence and incitement on both sides of the conflict. We continue to urge the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to avoid engaging in or encouraging any type of action and language that makes it more difficult to achieve a negotiated solution to the conflict. Officials are looking into the specific allegation raised. Our partnership with the Palestinian Authority (PA) includes a commitment from the Palestinian leadership to adhere to the principle of non-violence and to tackle language and avoid actions that could incite violence or hatred. The March 2019 assessment of the terms of the 2018-19 Memorandum of Understanding found that the PA continues to demonstrate a credible commitment to DFID’s ‘partnership principles’, including the principles of non-violence, under increasingly volatile conditions. As in other parts of the world where DFID works, this does not mean that we agree on all of the government or authority’s policies or actions – but rather that there is a credible foundation on which to work to tackle poverty and work towards the Sustainable Development Goals. We continue to press the Palestinian Authority to reform the prisoner payments system, as I did so personally during my recent visit in Ramallah.

Palestinians: Education

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the average salary is of employees of the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Education whose salaries are paid for by his Department through the PEGASE scheme.

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many employees of the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Education employees whose salaries are paid for by his Department through the PEGASE scheme receive a salary in excess of 2000 NIS per month.

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the average salary is of employees of the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health whose salaries are paid for by his Department through the PEGASE scheme.

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many employees of the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health employees whose salaries are paid for by his Department through the PEGASE scheme receive a salary in excess of 2000 NIS per month.

Dr Andrew Murrison: UK financial aid to support the Palestinian Authority’s (PA’s) health and education sectors is used exclusively to pay the salaries of vetted health and education public servants, including teachers, doctors and nurses, in the West Bank. The EU vets the list of PA health and education sector employees before every disbursement of financial aid to ensure only eligible beneficiaries receive UK aid, at a range of grades based on the PA payroll system. These payments are then independently audited. The average salary and number of employees earning in excess of 2,000 NIS per month who receive UK aid therefore could change each time a disbursement is made. The data necessary to calculate figures for every DFID disbursement is held by the EU.

Somalia: Droughts

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent support his Department has provided to people in Somalia affected by drought.

Harriett Baldwin: The UK is a leading donor to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Somalia. We recently donated £8 million to UNICEF, WFP and FAO to provide clean water, food and nutrition to over 500,000 people most affected by the current drought. We continue to actively monitor the situation and are considering what further support might be required.

Northern Ireland Office

Personal Independence Payment: Terminal Illnesses

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate she has made of the number of claimants known to the Northern Ireland Department for Communities who died after registering a personal independence payment claim and prior to receiving a decision of their claim under (a) the special rules for the terminally ill and (b) the standard rules; and if she will make a statement.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate she has made of the number of terminally ill claimants known to the Northern Ireland Department for Communities who had their claim for personal independence payments rejected and died within six months of that decision; and if she will make a statement.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate she has made of the number of claimants known to the Northern Ireland Department for Communities who applied for personal independence payments but died with six months of making their application; and if she will make a statement.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate she has made of the number of claimants known to the Northern Ireland Department for Communities who died after registering a claim for personal independence payments but before receiving a decision on their claim; and if she will make a statement.

John Penrose: I am aware that DWP recently provided information on the total number of patients who died within six months of their personal independence payment claim being disallowed. The delivery of personal independence payments is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and therefore falls within the remit of the Department for Communities.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Elections

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether she retains the power to call Assembly elections in the event that devolved government is not restored before the expiry of the timeframe set out in the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley: Under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018, I retain a discretionary power to propose a date for an Assembly election at any time. The Act also removes the duty to propose a date, which would arise again after the period for Executive formation. The Assembly is also able to call for an election.

Treasury

Utilities: Rural Areas

Drew Hendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing VAT relief on (a) water, (b) electricity and (c) other essential infrastructure connections for off-grid rural communities.

Jesse Norman: HM Treasury keeps all taxes under review. Existing rules mean that the supply of water to households is zero rated for VAT purposes and where a first-time connection is also provided by the water supplier then it may also be subject to the zero rate of VAT. In addition, there is relief on domestic energy including a reduced rate for household fuel. Under EU law it is not possible to remove VAT on utilities infrastructure.

Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a price cap across the whole consumer credit market.

John Glen: On 1 April 2014 the Government transferred regulatory responsibility for consumer credit from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA proactively monitors the market, focusing on the areas most likely to cause consumer harm. The Government has given the FCA the power to cap all forms of credit, and the FCA can do so if it thinks it is necessary to protect consumers. The FCA introduced a price cap on the cost of payday lending in 2015, and more recently introduced a price cap on rent-to-own which came into force on 1 April 2019. The Government has strong concerns about the practices that the FCA has identified in the rent-to-own market, and welcomes the FCA’s decision to introduce a price cap. The FCA has said that it will keep the issue of capping the cost of credit in other markets under review.

Solar Power: VAT

Dr David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason the Government plans to increase VAT on domestic solar panels and batteries from 5 per cent to 20 per cent in Autumn 2019.

Jesse Norman: The Government is currently amending VAT rules regarding the installation of certain energy saving materials in order to comply with a ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union while maintaining as much of the relief as possible. The VAT treatment of the vast majority of solar panel installations is expected to be unaffected by the changes. Under UK law, battery storage systems have always been subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20%.

Insurance: Misrepresentation

Laura Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps (a) his Department and (b) the FCA is taking to raise awareness of the ability of the next-of-kin of deceased persons to bring a complaint for the mis-selling of PPI and their right to reclaim.

Laura Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment (a) his Department and (b) the FCA has made of the potential merits of excluding vulnerable consumers, such as those claiming on behalf of a deceased person, from the deadline for claims for the mis-selling of PPI.

John Glen: The Government has been clear that the mis-selling of Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) was wrong, and affected consumers should receive redress. The deadline for making PPI claims and supporting consumers in making PPI claims are matters for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is operationally independent from Government. The question has therefore been passed on to the FCA who will reply directly to the honourable member. A copy of their response will be placed in the Library of the House.

Multinational Companies: Tax Avoidance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to tackle the use of aggressive artificial tax avoidance schemes by large international businesses.

Jesse Norman: Large businesses are subject to a significant level of scrutiny by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Approximately half of the UK’s largest businesses are under HMRC investigation at any one time. In 2017-18 HMRC investigations into large businesses secured over £9bn in additional tax revenue. HMRC uses measures such as the Diverted Profit Tax, corporate interest restriction, and other rules to help promote tax compliance. Tackling multinational tax avoidance is a global issue, which is why the UK continues to lead global efforts through the OECD and G20 to address gaps and mismatches in the international tax system. The UK has also been at the forefront of implementing actions arising as a result of this international effort. This includes introducing rules which prevent multinationals from exploiting differences in how countries tax financial instruments, entities and branches, and introducing rules which prevent multinationals claiming excessive tax deductions for interest expense.

Local Government Finance

Jim McMahon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the 1 February 2019 Local Government Association's news article entitled £8 billion funding black hole by 2025 will swallow up popular council services, dated 1 February 2019, what representations his Department has received on funding for local government in the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.

Elizabeth Truss: As Chief Secretary to the Treasury, I regularly hear from councils across the country on matters related to local government funding. I have also attended events organised by the sector to discuss local government funding. Future funding for local government will be considered at the next Spending Review.

Electronic Publishing: VAT

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons consumers pay 20 per cent VAT on (a) e-publications, (b) audio-books and (c) online newspapers; if he will make it his policy to implement a zero rating on such e-publications; what assessment he has made of the effect of that 20 per cent VAT rate on access to knowledge for (i) young people and (ii) other groups; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: Until December 2018, a zero rate has only been available under agreed EU law for physical publications. The Government keeps all taxes under review, including Value Added Tax (VAT).Any amendments to the VAT regime as it applies to physical publications and publications by other means must be carefully assessed against policy, economic and fiscal considerations.

Customs

Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of (a) new and (b) increased customs checks after the UK leaves the EU on Customs House clearance times for packages sent from EU member states.

Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to reduce the time it takes for packages sent from EU member states to clear Customs House as a result of new and increased customs checks after the UK leaves the EU.

Jesse Norman: In the event of a 'no deal', the Government’s priority is to keep goods moving and avoid delays at the border. As the customs authority, HMRC will act to ensure that border processes are as smooth as possible, without compromising security. Our aim is to ensure the movement of all goods continues to operate effectively.

Children: Day Care

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints relating to the tax-free childcare scheme have been received by HMRC as of 31 May 2019.

Elizabeth Truss: More than half a million parents have successfully opened a childcare account, and the vast majority of parents use the childcare service without issues. Since Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) was fully rolled out in February 2018, the rate of new complaints received by HMRC in relation to the childcare service has decreased substantially, while the number of users of TFC has more than trebled. However, it is not possible to break down complaints received about the childcare service between TFC and 30 hours free childcare complaints, as many parents receive both TFC and 30 hours free childcare. I refer the honorable member to my answer on 28 November 2018 (193504) https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-11-20/193504/, which sets out that to 31 October 2018, HMRC received 4,560 complaints from parents who experienced technical issues with the childcare service. From 1 November 2018 to 31 March 2019, HMRC received 943 new complaints from customers in relation to TFC and 30 hours free childcare (known as Tier 1). This includes complaints due to technical issues and customer service issues. From 1 November 2018 to 31 March 2019, HMRC received 205 complaints from customers in relation to TFC and 30 hours free childcare where a customer was dissatisfied with our decision on their initial complaint and they have asked us to look at their concerns again (known as Tier 2). As set out in HMRC’s monthly reports available for the 2018-19 period at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-monthly-performance-reports#reporting-year-2018-to-2019, complaints are not always logged on HMRC’s live system during the month they are received and the numbers can, therefore, be revised upwards for subsequent monthly reports. The current month will be subject to greatest revision. The information to 31 May is therefore not yet available to a robust enough standard.

Bus Services: Concessions

Steve McCabe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will protect the concessionary bus pass in the forthcoming Spending Review.

Elizabeth Truss: Decisions on public spending, including on concessionary travel, will be made in the round as part of the Spending Review.

Public Sector: Tax Avoidance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people working in the public sector that are subject to the 2019 loan charge; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: Disguised Remuneration (DR) schemes are contrived arrangements that pay loans in place of ordinary remuneration, with the sole purpose of avoiding income tax and National Insurance contributions. The loans are provided on terms that mean they are not repaid in practice, so they are no different to normal income and are, and always have been, taxable. The Government estimates that around 50,000 individuals could be affected by the 2019 loan charge. Further information on who the charge affects can be found at page 17 of HM Treasury’s report on time limits and the charge on disguised remuneration loans: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/789160/DR_loan_charge_review_web.pdf. This shows, for example, that 65% of the DR user population worked in business services, and only 3% worked in medical or education services.

Business: Exports

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many firms registered under the Registered Exporter system in (a) 2017 and (b) 2018.

Jesse Norman: 12,161 exporters registered under the Registered Exporter system in 2017. 28 exporters registered under the Registered Exporter system in 2018.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Dr Alan Whitehead: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Financial Times article entitled UK net zero emissions target will cost more than £1tn, published on 5 June 2019, if he will place a copy of his letter to the Prime Minister on the costs and benefits of moving to a net zero target for UK greenhouse gas emissions in the House of Commons Library.

Robert Jenrick: It has been the longstanding policy of successive governments not to comment on the content of leaked material.

Soft Drinks: Taxation

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what programmes were allocated funding from the Soft Drinks Industry Levy in 2018-2019.

Elizabeth Truss: In 2018-19 the following programmes were allocated money through funds collected from the levy: The PE and Sport Premium;The Healthy Pupils Capital Fund;Breakfast Clubs in over 1700 SchoolsThe Essential Life Skills (ELS) programmeActivities to support Mental Health/Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHCE) The funding from the Soft Drink Industry Levy has meant the following increases in allocations in recent years: In September 2017 DfE doubled the primary school PE and sport premium from £160 million per year to £320 million per year to help schools support healthier, more active lifestyles. This funding will enable primary schools to make further improvements to the quality and breadth of PE and sport they offer The Levy has provided up to £26 million funding to expand breakfast clubs in up to 1,700 schools The Devolved Administrations receive money from the levy through the Barnett formula. We do not hold information on the programmes they choose to support.

Doctors: Pensions

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made on amending the tapered annual allowance for NHS doctors.

Elizabeth Truss: The pension tax rules apply equally across all registered public and private sector defined benefit schemes, including the NHS Pension Scheme. The Government keeps all aspects of the tax system under review through the annual Budget process. On the 3 June 2019 the SoS for Health and Social Care announced his intention to consult on implementing a new pension flexibility for senior clinicians in the NHS Pension Scheme for England and Wales, to provide a structured way for clinicians to manage their NHS pension growth.

Pensions: Taxation

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of how often the annual tapered allowance results in a person being taxed more than 100 per cent of the pensions relief they would have received if they had not reached the allowance limit.

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of how often the annual tapered allowance results in a person being taxed more than 100 per cent of the earnings gained from additional sessions or responsibilities.

John Glen: Pensions tax relief is one of the most expensive reliefs in the personal tax system. In 2016/17 income tax and employer National Insurance Contributions relief cost over £50 billion, with around two-thirds going to higher and additional rate taxpayers.The tapered annual allowance is therefore focussed on the highest-earning savers, to ensure that the benefit they receive is not disproportionate to that of other pension savers. Less than one per cent of pension savers will have to reduce their saving or face an annual allowance charge as a result of the tapered annual allowance. For those who incur annual allowance tax charges, the charge recoups the excess tax relief on the benefits that they have accrued in that year above their annual allowance. The charge is levied at an individual’s marginal rate. For example, an individual with a salary above £150,000 would be taxed at 45% on pension accrual above their annual allowance. It is not possible to estimate the precise effects of the tapered annual allowance on an individual’s total remuneration without knowing their specific circumstances.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

5G: Health Hazards

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the providers of 5G on whether they have made any provision for personal liability on health and safety grounds.

Margot James: I have regular meetings with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) on a range of subjects including 5G developments. MNOs will lead the rollout of 5G in the UK and provide the vast majority of commercial investment in 5G networks. The Government is setting the policy and regulatory environment needed to ensure the right conditions for investment in the development of 5G networks. 5G spectrum frequencies that have been granted licenses have similar properties to those which are currently used in mobile communications technologies. A considerable amount of research has been carried out on radio waves and Public Health England (PHE) have concluded that exposures of radio waves to the public are well within the international health-related guideline levels that are used in the UK. All 5G technology will also have to adhere to the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) exposure guidelines.

5G

Mr Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential competition benefits of a dynamic spectrum access model for the next 5G auction to open up underemployed 5G spectrum to new providers.

Mr Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of opening up access to the 5G spectrum to new users on the speed of deployment of 5G to rural communities.

Margot James: In the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, the Government supports the introduction of flexible, shared spectrum models - such as dynamic spectrum access - and the release of additional public sector spectrum as strategic priorities. Government believes that spectrum sharing would enable new players, alongside existing mobile operators, to access and invest in new business models whilst enabling innovative solutions to connectivity challenges, such as in rural areas. Today, we have the tools and technologies needed to allocate spectrum on a dynamic basis. Government will continue to work with Ofcom and industry to support innovation and investment and deliver improvements in coverage. We believe that the market expansion model will aid these objectives and encourage competition. The Government recently consulted on these ambitions in the Statement of Strategic Priorities. Ofcom, as the national regulatory authority, will have regard to these when carrying out the management of spectrum and other relevant functions.

Radio Frequencies: Research

Mr Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what progress he has made on establishing a new National Spectrum Centre in Aberystwyth to enable UK businesses to (a) develop and (b) test wireless technology in a suitable environment.

Margot James: Government is not directly involved in this initiative. We welcome industry-led research to develop innovative and efficient uses of spectrum.

Sports: Equal Pay

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to close the gender pay gap in sport; and if he will make a statement.

Mims Davies: It is important that women and men are recognised and paid equally for doing the same work. I welcome the positive step that has been taken to ensure that all companies in Great Britain with more than 250 employees are required to report their gender pay gap to the Government Equalities Office. We know there is some work to do to narrow the gender pay gap across the sport sector. Sport England’s workforce strategy for England, “Working in an Active Nation”, highlights the commitment to achieving higher gender diversity in leadership roles on boards in sport. Furthermore the UK Sport and Sport England Code for Sports Governance, which is mandatory and applies to any organisation seeking funding from Sport England or UK Sport, includes a target of at least 30% gender diversity on boards.

Huawei: 5G

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2019 to Question 257533 and the statement in that Answer that the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre has not begun assessing any 5G equipment, how the Supply Chain Review will ensure the secure and resilient roll-out of 5G.

Margot James: The Government has undertaken a thorough, evidence-based and hard-headed review of the 5G supply chain to ensure the secure and resilient roll-out of 5G. This includes a full security risk assessment by the National Cyber Security Centre. The decisions of the Supply Chain Review will be announced to Parliament in due course.

Music: Licensing Laws

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department will take to ensure that (a) music and (b) the evening economy are embedded in local industrial strategies.

Margot James: The Government recognises the significant contribution generated by music and the evening economy to the UK. We have reformed entertainment licensing and planning policy guidance, making it easier for well-established music and cultural venues to operate. Government has confirmed that it will work with all Mayoral Combined Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to develop Local Industrial Strategies, which are locally-led and agreed with Government. The national Industrial Strategy provides a policy framework against which Local Industrial Strategies will be assessed. Government recognises the value that creative industries bring to local places, and engages with LEPs in promoting the growth of these sectors through Local Industrial Strategies - for example by developing a Connected Growth Toolkit to support LEPs in designing local strategies.

Digital Technology: North Wales

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much Government funding has been made available for improving digital connectivity in North Wales each of the last eight years.

Margot James: The total spend on improving digital connectivity as a result of the Welsh government’s Superfast programme (Superfast Cymru) in North Wales equates to £62.78 million. This is made up of contributions from the UK government, the Welsh government and the European Union. On 4 December 2018, Building Digital UK (BDUK) here at DCMS approved £8 million of funding for North Wales through Wave 3 of the Local Full Fibre Networks programme. This project has started to deploy fibre upgrades to 335 public buildings across six local authorities in North Wales (Gwynedd, Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighsire, Flintshire and Wrexham). The number of Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) vouchers requested for North Wales to date are low because of the coexistence with the previous Welsh scheme. BDUK recently launched a joint new scheme, hosted by DCMS but co-branded with the Welsh government, with the voucher values topped up by the Welsh government. The numbers for the GBVS are as follows: Conwy 1Denbighshire 12Flintshire 10Gwynedd 6Wrexham 8

Internet: Cryptography

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on what date (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department were first notified of (a) the roll-out of domain name systems over hypertext transfer protocol secure and (b) the effect of that roll-out on internet service provider blocking.

Margot James: The Government continually monitors developments in standards bodies including the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which have been developing the domain name systems over hypertext transfer protocol secure (DOH) standard from June 2017. Work to understand the potential implications of these changes, including the potential impact of the rollout of DOH on internet service provider blocking is ongoing and officials are advising Ministers as this work progresses.

House of Commons Commission

House of Commons: Repairs and Maintenance

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps are planned to be taken to improve the digital accessibility of the House of Commons through the Restoration and Renewal programme.

Tom Brake: Plans to improve the digital accessibility of Parliament as part of the Restoration and Renewal programme have not yet been agreed, as this work is still at an early stage. However, recognising the importance of this matter, the shadow Sponsor Board has agreed a strategic approach, which commits the programme to deliver a building which supports Parliament’s core function as a working legislature using high-quality design and technology, as well as encouraging wider participation in the work of Parliament, including through improved digital access. This strategic approach has also been endorsed by the Commissions of both Houses.

House of Commons Commission: Living Wage

Justin Madders: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, what proportion of organisations that hold contracts with the Commission pay the National Living Wage.

Tom Brake: The House of Commons is accredited by Citizens UK as a London Living Wage Employer. The terms of its accreditation licence require that contractors and sub-contractors with dedicated staff who are based on parliamentary premises are paying those staff at least the London Living Wage.Contractors and sub-contractors which provide services in relation to our contracts, while not having a presence on parliamentary premises, are required to pay dedicated staff at least the London Living Wage, or the UK Living Wage if based outside London.We can confirm that to our knowledge, all dedicated staff are being paid either the London Living Wage or the UK Living Wage.

Women and Equalities

Employment: Equality

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has plans to introduce further auditing and fines for employers who cannot prove their gender equality practices.

Victoria Atkins: Organisations with 250 or more employees are now required to publish specific gender pay gap data on an annual basis. We believe that this transparency is motivating employers to take action, but these regulations are new and we will be monitoring them closely. We continue to urge employers to go beyond the reporting requirements by publishing an action plan, setting out the steps they are taking to improve gender equality, just under half of employers did this in the first year. I intend to write to all public sector employers urging them to develop a plan, and will meet influential business leaders to press them to take action in their sectors.

Equal Pay

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, for what reasons the UK has not accepted the obligation under Article 4.3 of the European Social Charter to recognise the right of men and women workers to equal pay for work of equal value.

Victoria Atkins: The UK Government supports the work of the Council of Europe and continues to support the European Social Charter (1961). Since the European Social Charter came into force in the UK we have introduced a number of policy and legislative reforms that provide equivalent or greater protections for individuals in the field of equal pay. We have also ratified a number of international conventions which provide equivalent protections and which the UK has implemented via national legislation. We are fully committed to the Equal Pay protections in the Equality Act 2010. In 2014, we introduced equal pay audits for when employers are found to have breached equal pay law and in 2017 we introduced gender pay gap reporting. Our equal pay legislation complies with EU requirements, which are reflected in Article 4.3 of the European Social Charter. We are committed to ensure that the robust protections provided by Equality Acts 2006 and 2010 and equivalent legislation in Northern Ireland continue to apply after the UK leaves the EU, as will Article 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which will become part of EU-retained law.

Disability: Access

George Eustice: To ask the Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to improve enforcement of requirements of the Equality Act 2010 on access to facilities for disabled people.

Victoria Atkins: The Equality Act 2010 contains strong, enforceable protections for disabled people who experience discrimination, including a failure by employers or service providers to make reasonable adjustments to enable disabled people to access work and services like everybody else. In 2018 the Government committed to the commencement of section 36 of the Equality Act, which will enable disabled tenants to require that landlords and building owners to make reasonable adjustments to the common parts of dwellings, such as entry points, landings and stairs. Work to determine the cost of implementation is proceeding and an announcement will be made in due course. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which enforces the Equality Act, recently delivered a Legal Support Project to increase access to justice for people experiencing disability discrimination. It offered groups £189,000 for legal assistance across 94 cases in areas including employment. The EHRC has increased its capacity to advise on discrimination cases in its new strategic plan, and has supported several court cases which resulted in strengthened rights for disabled people, including those wishing to make reasonable adjustments to their homes and disabled children who may demonstrate a tendency to physical abuse as a result of their disability, whose schools must now make reasonable adjustments in such cases.